Articles tagged with Crystal Structure
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have gained a clearer understanding of the origin recognition complex (ORC), a protein complex that directs DNA replication. The crystal structure shows how ORC's main body has five subunits, including one that protrudes from the core to contact another subunit.
Researchers successfully created and controlled defect pairs in liquid crystals using optical tweezers. This achievement opens the door to controlling light flow using specific frequencies in liquid crystal photonic microdevices, with potential applications in photonics.
Researchers developed a novel technique to craft nanometer-scale necklaces using tiny star-like structures threaded onto a polymeric backbone. The technique creates hybrid organic-inorganic shish kebab structures from semiconducting materials with unique properties.
A team of scientists has discovered five new forms of silica under extreme pressures at room temperature, revealing a four-to-six configuration shift in the deep Earth. The findings provide valuable insights into the transition between different chemical phases under high-pressure conditions.
Researchers investigated MDMA's behavior under extreme pressure, finding no change in polymorph despite elevated pressures. The study suggests that non-hydrostatic conditions may lead to a polymorphic change.
A team from Princeton University has discovered a second natural quasicrystal in an ancient meteorite, bringing to two the number of natural quasicrystals ever discovered. The newly found quasicrystal has a decagonal symmetry and is made up of aluminum, nickel, and iron.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute engineered fluorescent protein that rapidly assembles into large crystals in living cells. Cells actively targeted the crystals for degradation, a process known as autophagy, suggesting potential evolutionary pressure to discourage crystal formation.
Researchers have successfully imaged the 3D structure of a giant mimivirus using an X-ray free-electron laser, without relying on crystal formation. This achievement paves the way for imaging important pathogenic viruses like HIV and influenza.
A new semiconductor compound is bringing fresh momentum to the field of spintronics, an emerging breed of computing device that may lead to smaller, faster, less power-hungry electronics. The compound's unique low-symmetry crystal structure offers much greater flexibility, enabling precise control over conductivity and magnetism.
Scientists have developed a new X-ray source to study how non-addictive painkillers work, revealing the target of binding to neuroreceptors. This breakthrough could lead to designing molecules to generate specific responses and address critical health issues related to opioid abuse.
Researchers at NIST have demonstrated a technique for mapping deformation in metals that can recover destroyed serial numbers. The method uses electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to read imprints on steel, revealing crystal damage and improving forensic analysis.
This year's winners are Dr. C. Robert Matthews, Dr. Eva Nogales, Dr. Marina Rodnina, Dr. Sachdev Sidhu, and Dr. Anna Mapp. They were honored for their groundbreaking research in protein folding mechanisms, structural biology, protein synthesis, engineering, and chemical biology.
Researchers have clarified the compound's phases, thermal expansion and hydrogen bonds, shedding new light on its properties. The study uses advanced methods to determine the crystal structure and electronic structure of ammonium carbonate monohydrate.
A team of researchers from UCLA and Columbia University has made a breakthrough in controlling light on a nanoscale by using random crystal lattice structures. This discovery could lead to more precise data transfer in computer chips and the development of new optical materials for laser emission.
Recent breakthroughs in iron-based superconductors feature the highest transition temperatures next to copper oxides, with a focus on understanding their unconventional superconductivity. The study outlines the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity, electronic properties, and crystal structures of these materials.
The study reveals that one chemokine binds to just one receptor in the CXCR4-chemokine complex and that the contacts between the receptor and its binding partner are more extensive than previously thought. This new information could aid the development of better small molecular inhibitors of CXCR4-chemokine interactions.
Researchers from MIPT use the USPEX method to predict the structure and properties of rutile's surface. This resolves existing discrepancies between empirical and theoretical data, paving the way for understanding chemical reactions on the catalyst.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute reveal new insights into nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (TH), a metabolic enzyme found in most forms of life, shedding light on its structure and function. The discovery sheds light on TH's dynamic structure and how it alternates functions to maintain cell health.
The new SHELXT program solves the phase problem for single-crystal reflection data using a novel dual-space algorithm, extending resolution and accommodating missing data. With high success rates, it has already solved thousands of structures.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that stacking 2D materials can create semiconductor junctions with efficient charge transfer, even when the crystalline structures don't match. This discovery could make the manufacture of semiconductor devices an order of magnitude less expensive.
Penn researchers demonstrate that stiffness and strength scaling remain unchanged across various glassy materials, indicating a constant critical strain before catastrophic failure. This finding provides insight into the fundamental mechanism driving failure in glasses, suggesting cooperative motion of particles or atoms.
Researchers successfully analyzed all known complete proteomes using X-ray crystallography and homology modeling, covering 25% of protein clusters. The study highlights the potential for knowledge-based target selection to increase structural model production, particularly in eukaryotes and archaea.
New research from Arizona State University reveals that lonsdaleite is not a separate type of diamond but rather a structurally disordered form of ordinary diamond. The study found defects in the crystal structure caused by shock metamorphism, plastic deformation, or unequilibrated crystal growth.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a new form of crystalline order that exhibits both crystal and polycrystalline properties. The 'interlaced crystals' arrangement has ideal properties for thermoelectric applications, which could increase power generation efficiency and reduce energy costs.
Researchers at RIKEN developed a new technique to analyze protein structures by suspending crystals in a greasy substance, enabling the use of smaller samples and faster data collection. This breakthrough could lead to improved understanding of dangerous proteins, such as those containing mercury.
Researchers have used X-ray diffraction to investigate photosystem II, revealing structures yet unknown. The results show that photosystem II proteins are arranged within crystals as extended rows, similar to their natural environment.
A new class of conjugated polymers has been discovered, approaching disorder-free limits and enabling faster, more efficient flexible electronics. These materials could be used to create lightweight, flexible displays for smartphones and tablets.
Researchers have successfully crystallized carbon monoxide bound to the FeMo-cofactor of nitrogenase, a long-sought structure that could reveal the enzyme's mechanism. The breakthrough, achieved by Thomas Spatzal and colleagues, uses optimized crystallization methods and tiny crystal seeds to accelerate growth.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute discover that neurotransmitter vesicles are already in close contact with the cell membrane before fusion occurs. This discovery provides insight into how synapses rapidly transmit information and could lead to new medical research benefits.
A group of scientists from the US used atomic-resolution Z-contrast imaging and X-ray spectroscopy to analyze two types of dislocations in CdTe, a binary II-VI semiconductor. The study could lead to improved conversion efficiency in CdTe solar cells and advance understanding of crystal structure defects.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have created rounded crystals with no facets, resembling starfish shells. These nanolobes have potential applications in guiding light for LEDs and solar cells, as well as repelling water and dirt.
Scientists at Harvard's Wyss Institute have designed the first large DNA crystals with precise depth and complex 3D features, enabling the creation of revolutionary nanodevices. The breakthrough uses a modular 'DNA-brick self-assembly' method to build complex structures with nanometer precision.
A new crystallographic technique enables time-resolved crystallography, allowing researchers to study how molecular structures work. This breakthrough is expected to provide a major boost in areas of research that rely on understanding molecule function.
Researchers at Princeton University have overcome a major challenge in predicting material properties by accurately calculating the lattice energy of benzene to sub-kilojoule/mol accuracy. This breakthrough enables polymorphism to be resolved, a crucial step towards understanding material behavior and development of new materials.
Scientists have found that defects in a 2D material called tungsten disulphide can create unusual characteristics, making it useful for electronic devices and hydrogen gas liberation. The researchers used an advanced microscope to visualize the defects, revealing a low-energy barrier that allows them to be easily displaced.
The Case Center for Synchrotron Biosciences will assemble cutting-edge Nnew beamlines at Brookhaven National Laboratory, delivering ultra powerful x-rays to visualize nano-scale structures of molecules and proteins. The new facility will enable scientists to pinpoint disease-causing vulnerabilities and target therapeutic interventions.
Researchers from Penn and HKUST discovered a surprising mechanism facilitating one of the two main routes for solid-solid transitions. The process involves the parent phase producing liquid droplets, which then evolve into the daughter phase, revealing new insight into material development and natural processes.
A team of scientists at UVA has obtained the crystal structure of a key Ebola virus protein, revealing a novel tertiary fold that could lead to insights into viral assembly and antiviral drug design. The study's results may provide a potential target for the development of new treatments for Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
Researchers have discovered a new semiconducting material that allows solid oxide fuel cells to operate at two-thirds lower temperatures than current technology. This breakthrough enables more efficient fuel cells with wider applications, including quieter, pollution-free power generation in vehicles and neighborhoods.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have made significant advances in crystallography, allowing them to study chemical reactions in their native state. The new technique uses a metal-organic framework to bind reactants and enables the examination of reaction products without isolating or growing crystals.
A team of researchers used computer simulations to study how ion flux works in voltage gated sodium ion channels. The results revealed that a specific amino acid, glutamic acid, plays a crucial role in regulating channel flux and enabling selective sodium influx.
Scientists from Aalto University create ordered structures by mixing oppositely charged proteins and virus particles, enabling modular functionalization with various ligands. The method opens possibilities for biomedical and materials science research.
ORNL scientists uncover clues to role of magnetism in iron-based superconductors, finding localized magnetism correlated with high critical temperature and influencing material performance. The study provides experimental evidence that local magnetic fluctuations can influence the behavior of iron-based superconductors.
The research reveals the viral capsid structure, showing similarities to other viruses, and identifies potential binding sites for modification. The findings may lead to new information on host-virus interactions and the development of custom-made viruses to target parasitic or pathogenic worms.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a semiconductor structure consisting of two ultra-thin layers, tungsten diselenide and molybdenum disulphide, which exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties. This material has the potential to be used in future low-cost solar cells with improved efficiency and flexibility.
Scientists have determined the 3D structure of 5HT3-R, a receptor involved in conditions like chemotherapy-induced nausea and anxiety. The high-resolution structure reveals the receptor's molecular anatomy, providing insights into its function and potential targets for novel medicines.
Researchers propose a new method to create defect-free crystals using inexpensive ingredients, dispelling current methods' reliance on difficult-to-synthesize particles. By adding polymers to colloidal suspensions, scientists can impose order on crystal formation and tailor crystal structures.
Researchers at Saint Louis University discovered that deleting disordered sections of a protein's structure reveals the molecular mechanism of blood clotting. By crystallizing prothrombin, they found that the deleted version is activated to thrombin faster and provides key information on the mechanism of prothrombin activation.
Scientists solved the long-standing question of whether ferryl heme in Compound I involves just an oxygen atom or a hydroxyl group, with implications for drug development. The study used neutron crystallography to determine the structure of Compound I at cryogenic temperatures.
The team created a crystal that can form a paper-like sheet just three atoms thick and exhibits remarkable ability to behave like a switch. It can be mechanically pulled and pushed, back and forth, between two different atomic structures.
Scientists have discovered a density wave structure in copper-oxide high-temperature superconductors, shedding light on their exotic properties. The breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in electricity delivery and technology.
Researchers develop a crowdsourcing game to tackle the phase problem, achieving successful results in low-resolution phasing puzzles. The approach leverages human pattern recognition capabilities to guide the search process.
A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has captured the most detailed images yet of spliceosomes, which help make proteins in our bodies. The images reveal new details about how these cellular machines work and provide insight into the relationship between RNA and protein.
Researchers develop method to control ordering of self-assembling structures, inducing reversible switching and transformation between arrangements. Nano-scale materials with specific properties are crucial for various applications in electronics, photovoltaics and biomimetic material synthesis.
Scientists at the University of Vienna observe random diffusion of a butterfly-shaped atomic defect in graphene, revealing a random walk through the crystal. The study uses high-resolution electron microscopy to track the defect's migration over time.
Eumelanin, the primary pigment in human skin, hair, and eyes, has been found to absorb a broad spectrum of sunlight due to its unique physical arrangement. Researchers have identified that disorder in the material's structure plays a crucial role in its broadband blocking ability.
Analysis reveals unusual sodium absorption pattern in the crystal, caused by different charges and magnetic moments of manganese atoms. The discovery provides a basis for tailoring the properties of these materials, potentially leading to improved battery performance.
Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have recorded the first observations of strong nonlinear optical resonances along the edges of a single layer of molybdenum disulfide. These one-dimensional edge states are key to enabling novel nanoelectronics and photonic devices.
Scientists at the University of Arizona have developed a way to control graphene's crystal structure using an electric field. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of faster and more versatile transistors, which would enable faster computing and new applications for graphene in microelectronics.
Researchers from Stanford and KAUST develop a novel method to study crystallization, allowing for unprecedented control over crystal structures. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for flexible electronics, circuits, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.