Biological X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Research Articles

A biological perspective towards a standard for information exchange and reporting in XAS.

The complex structural landscape of biological samples and their sensitivity to X-ray exposure leads to specific challenges in biological X-ray absorption spectroscopy (bio-XAS) research, which in turn has necessitated standardization of various aspects of bio-XAS data measurement, analysis and interpretation. The bio-XAS community is therefore well suited for the development of a data-reporting standard with the specific aim of creating a feedback loop for improving/standardizing data analysis protocols and optionally to make published data available to collaborators/researchers in a meaningful and quantitative format. The XIF (XAFS information file) reporting format presented here contains key experimental and analysis parameters, useful in developing a consistent platform for bio-XAS research worldwide. Such a reporting standard, enforced by the user community and publishing groups alike, can be an important step towards the standardization of data measurement and analysis techniques in bio-XAS.

Review of Canadian Light Source facilities for biological applications

Abstract The newly-created Biological and Life Sciences Department at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) encompasses four sets of beamlines devoted to biological studies ranging in scope from the atomic scale to cells, tissues and whole organisms. The Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility (CMCF) consists of two beamlines devoted primarily to crystallographic studies of proteins and other macromolecules. The Mid-Infrared Spectromicroscopy (Mid-IR) beamline focusses on using infrared energy to obtain biochemical, structural and dynamical information about biological systems. The Bio-Medical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) facility consists of two beamlines devoted to advanced imaging and X-ray therapy techniques. The Biological X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (BioXAS) facility is being commissioned and houses three beamlines devoted to X-ray absorption spectroscopy and multi-mode X-ray fluorescence imaging. Together, these beamlines provide CLS Users with a powerful array of techniques to study today’s most pressing biological questions. We describe these beamlines along with their current powerful features and envisioned future capabilities.

X-ray-induced photo-chemistry and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples.

As synchrotron light sources and optics deliver greater photon flux on samples, X-ray-induced photo-chemistry is increasingly encountered in X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) experiments. The resulting problems are particularly pronounced for biological XAS experiments. This is because biological samples are very often quite dilute and therefore require signal averaging to achieve adequate signal-to-noise ratios, with correspondingly greater exposures to the X-ray beam. This paper reviews the origins of photo-reduction and photo-oxidation, the impact that they can have on active site structure, and the methods that can be used to provide relief from X-ray-induced photo-chemical artifacts.

Anion binding in biological systems

We compare aspects of biological X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies of cations and anions, and report on some examples of anion binding in biological systems. Brown algae such as Laminaria digitata (oarweed) are effective accumulators of I from seawater, with tissue concentrations exceeding 50 mM, and the vanadate-containing enzyme haloperoxidase is implicated in halide accumulation. We have studied the chemical state of iodine and its biological role in Laminaria at the I K edge, and bromoperoxidase from Ascophyllum nodosum (knotted wrack) at the Br K edge. Mo is essential for many forms of life; W only for certain archaea, such as Archaeoglobus fulgidus and the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, and some bacteria. The metals are bound and transported as their oxo-anions, molybdate and tungstate, which are similar in size. The transport protein WtpA from P. furiosus binds tungstate more strongly than molybdate, and is related in sequence to Archaeoglobus fulgidus ModA, of which a crystal structure is known. We have measured A. fulgidus ModA with tungstate at the W L3 (2p3/2) edge, and compared the results with the refined crystal structure. XAS studies of anion binding are feasible even if only weak interactions are present, are biologically relevant, and give new insights in the spectroscopy.

Biological X-ray absorption spectroscopy and metalloproteomics

In the past seven years the size of the known protein sequence universe has been rapidly expanding. At present, more then five million entries are included in the UniProtKB/TrEMBL protein database. In this context, a retrospective evaluation of recent X-ray absorption studies is undertaken to assess its potential role in metalloproteomics. Metalloproteomics is the structural and functional characterization of metal-binding proteins. This is a new area of active research which has particular relevance to biology and for which X-ray absorption spectroscopy is ideally suited. In the last three years, biological X-ray absorption spectroscopy (BioXAS) has been included among the techniques used in post-genomics initiatives for metalloprotein characterization. The emphasis of this review is on the progress in BioXAS that has emerged from recent meetings in 2007-2008. Developments required to enable BioXAS studies to better contribute to metalloproteomics throughput are also discussed. Overall, this paper suggests that X-ray absorption spectroscopy could have a higher impact on metalloproteomics, contributing significantly to the understanding of metal site structures and of reaction mechanisms for metalloproteins.

KEMP: A program script for automated biological x-ray absorption spectroscopy data reduction

Automation of x-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) data reduction is essential to cope with high-throughput data collection becoming available at an increasing number of synchrotron radiation centers. A flexible script called KEMP has been developed and implemented at the XAS beamline at EMBL Hamburg. It automatically processes fluorescence XAS data. The pipeline includes dead time correction, energy calibration, selection of fluorescence detector channels, as well as the extraction of x-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended x-ray-absorption fine structure. The output is quickly available and thus can be included in the design of further experiments, which results in a more efficient use of the beam time.

Integrated instrumentation for combined polarized single-crystal XAS and diffraction data acquisition for biological applications

Single-crystal X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) instrumentation, allowing sequential integrated XAS and crystallographic data acquisition during the same experiment and on the same beamline, has been developed for SSRL beamline 9-3, a wiggler side station dedicated to general user biological XAS. The implementation includes a Huber kappa goniometer, Canberra 30-element Ge detector for XAS data collection, open-flow LHe and LN2 crystal coolers, a microscope for crystal alignment in the beam, and a MarCCD crystallography detector. The kappa goniometer allows a large accessible angular range with an open geometry, affording access to detectors and open stream coolers, as well as future instrumentation. Applicable standard hardware on SSRL crystallography beamlines has been incorporated, with crystallographic data collection controlled via the Blu-Ice software developed by the SSRL SMB macromolecular crystallography group. XAS data collection is handled through the SSRL standard XAS-Collect software. Initial diffraction and XAS data from single crystals using an open-flow cryostat are presented. The instrument will be available to general users after the SPEAR3 upgrade in 2004, and future expansion for use in high-throughput structural genomics XAS is proposed.

X-ray voltabsorptometry on redox proteins

Biological X-ray absorption spectroscopy (BioXAS) is able to describe the metal environment in a metalloprotein and is sensitive to metal oxidation state. Coupling of BioXAS and electrochemistry permits the characterization of different oxidation states and avoids uncontrolled protein redox state changes due to X-ray beam irradiation. XAS spectroelectrochemistry requires electrochemical cells specifically designed to meet the requirements of both XAS measurements and electrochemical effectiveness in potential control. In this context, this paper describes a new cell tested with different types of working electrodes developed for BioXAS, in particular for in situ studies of redox proteins. The XAS electrochemical measurements of a relatively high-molecular-weight protein (Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase) for which it is difficult to observe direct electrochemistry have been achieved. New working electrodes, capable of fast and unmediated electron transfer, are described. The cell permits to isolate protein redox states and to measure X-ray absorption intensity during a potential scan (X-ray voltabsorptometry).

Characterization of Metalloprotein Metal Sites: High Throughput Approaches to Biological X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy - Invited

Characterization of Metalloprotein Metal Sites: High Throughput Approaches to Biological X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy - Invited

XAS of dilute biological samples.

The experimental setup of beamline ID26 at ESRF (Grenoble) has been successfully exploited to obtain high-quality XAS (X-ray absorption spectroscopy) data from a biological sample where the metal concentration is about 100 micro M. The sample consists of the adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) histidine proline rich glycoprotein (HPRG) complex that contains 3-4 Zn(II) ions per dimer of approximately 320 kDa molecular weight. The experiment shows that third-generation X-ray sources equipped with insertion devices and appropriate optics and detectors allow the investigation of complex biological systems where the metal concentration is intrinsically low. The availability of such experimental setups makes possible a completely new set of experiments in biological XAS.

Changes in the perception of biological X-ray absorption spectroscopy between ICBIC 1 and ICBIC 10/BIOXAS 2001: how far have we travelled?

The proceedings of BIOXAS 2001 (Siena, Italy, 2001) and both current and planned activities in the field of biological X-ray absorption spectroscopy are discussed against the perspective of changes in the perception of the technique since ICBIC 1 (Florence, Italy, 1983).