Probing Cage Relaxation in Concentrated Protein Solutions by X-Ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy
Yuriy Chushkin, Alessandro Gulotta, Felix Roosen‐Runge, Antara Pal, Anna Stradner, Peter Schurtenberger
Abstract
Diffusion of proteins on length scales of their size is crucial for understanding the machinery of living cells. X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is currently the only way to access long-time collective diffusion on these length scales, but radiation damage so far limits the use in biological systems. We apply a new approach to use XPCS to measure cage relaxation in crowded α-crystallin solutions. This allows us to correct for radiation effects, obtain missing information on long time diffusion, and support the fundamental analogy between protein and colloid dynamical arrest.
Topics & Concepts
DiffusionRelaxation (psychology)Dynamic light scatteringSpectroscopyPhotonPhysicsColloidStatistical physicsChemical physicsCondensed matter physicsOpticsChemistryNanoparticleQuantum mechanicsBiologyPhysical chemistryNeuroscienceProtein Structure and DynamicsHeat shock proteins researchEnzyme Structure and Function