Time-Resolved X-ray Tools to Study Protein Dynamics

Abstract

Time-resolved x-ray liquidography (TRXL), which is also known as time-resolved x-ray solution scattering, has been successfully used to reveal the structural dynamics of various biological reactions [1-7] as well as small molecules [8-10]. The characteristic of x-ray, of which scattering signal is sensitive to the global structures of proteins, allows for visualizing the global structural changes of proteins during reactions. We will present up-to-date TRXL experiments and analysis results for protein folding and signal transition within a protein. In addition, we will present our recent development to make TRXL applicable to a wider range of proteins. We expect that such experimental enhancements could extend the application of TRXL to an unprecedented realm in terms of their target proteins and time domain.