High-Resolution X-ray Fluorescence and Excitation Spectroscopy of Metalloproteins

A spectrograph has been developed with sufficient efficiency to make high-resolution fluorescence experiments on metalloproteins possible. The resolution of this spectrometer can reach 0.45 eV at 7.1 keV emission energy. The focus images of this multiple curved-crystal array spectrometer are presented. The chemical sensitivity of Kβ emission spectra can be used to identify chemical states, and the spin-polarized near-edge structure provides a new measure of the spin density. The high-resolution fluorescence metalloprotein studies should become routine with third-generation synchrotron facilities, and the strength of both site and spin selectivity should complement the structural information from other spectroscopies.