Radiation Chemistry (radiation + chemistry)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A beginner's guide to radiation damage

JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 2 2009
James M. Holton
Many advances in the understanding of radiation damage to protein crystals, particularly at cryogenic temperatures, have been made in recent years, but with this comes an expanding literature, and, to the new breed of protein crystallographer who is not really interested in X-ray physics or radiation chemistry but just wants to solve a biologically relevant structure, the technical nature and breadth of this literature can be daunting. The purpose of this paper is to serve as a rough guide to radiation damage issues, and to provide references to the more exacting and detailed work. No attempt has been made to report precise numbers (a factor of two is considered satisfactory), and, since there are aspects of radiation damage that are demonstrably unpredictable, the `worst case scenario' as well as the `average crystal' are discussed in terms of the practicalities of data collection. [source]


Physical and chemical considerations of damage induced in protein crystals by synchrotron radiation: a radiation chemical perspective

JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 6 2002
Peter O'Neill
Radiation-induced degradation of protein or DNA samples by synchrotron radiation is an inherent problem in X-ray crystallography, especially at the `brighter' light sources. This short review gives a radiation chemical perspective on some of the physical and chemical processes that need to be considered in understanding potential pathways leading to the gradual degradation of the samples. Under the conditions used for X-ray crystallography at a temperature of <100,K in the presence of cryoprotectant agents, the majority of radiation damage of the protein samples arises from direct ionization of the amino acid residues and their associated water molecules. Some of the chemical processes that may occur at these protein centres, such as bond scission, are discussed. Several approaches are discussed that may reduce radiation damage, using agents known from radiation chemistry to minimize radical-induced degradation of the sample. [source]


Pulsed and cw EPR studies on hydrogen atoms encaged in octasilsesquioxane molecules

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 13 2006
R. S. Schoenfeld
Abstract We report on the synthesis of hydrogen atoms in different Si8O12R8 cages (R = (CH2)nH with n = 0,3) by both radiation chemistry and ion implantation. The efficiencies of both mechanisms have been studied quantitatively and attempts to optimise the process have been made. Spectral properties and relaxation times were investigated using both cw and pulsed EPR measurements. The Hahn Echo decay behaviour and the dependence of T1 and T2 on the side groups R of the cage revealed information about the predominant relaxation mechanisms. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Surface topography and surface chemistry of radiation-patterned P(tBuMA),analysis by atomic force microscopy

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 9 2003
Gregory S Watson
Abstract Poly-(tert -butyl methacrylate) (P(tBuMA)) thin-film surfaces were patterned by UV radiation at doses in the range 10,100 mJ cm,2, in order to induce laterally differentiated surface chemistry with µm resolution. The most likely pathway for the radiation chemistry predicts a transition from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity. Outcomes of analysis by atomic force microscopy under air ambient conditions were consistent with that prediction. Topographic and lateral force imaging, in combination with friction loop analysis, revealed shrinkage and increased friction arising from exposure. Force versus distance analysis revealed greater adhesion in hydrophilic regions, due to greater meniscus force acting on the tip. The thickness of adsorbed moisture, increased by a factor of 2.5 from ca 0.8 nm for the unirradiated surface, as a result of greater hydrophilicity induced by radiation. The latter observation shows that the increased friction was due principally to the greater normal force on the tip from an additional meniscus force. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Diffraction data analysis in the presence of radiation damage

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 4 2010
Dominika Borek
In macromolecular crystallography, the acquisition of a complete set of diffraction intensities typically involves a high cumulative dose of X-ray radiation. In the process of data acquisition, the irradiated crystal lattice undergoes a broad range of chemical and physical changes. These result in the gradual decay of diffraction intensities, accompanied by changes in the macroscopic organization of crystal lattice order and by localized changes in electron density that, owing to complex radiation chemistry, are specific for a particular macromolecule. The decay of diffraction intensities is a well defined physical process that is fully correctable during scaling and merging analysis and therefore, while limiting the amount of diffraction, it has no other impact on phasing procedures. Specific chemical changes, which are variable even between different crystal forms of the same macromolecule, are more difficult to predict, describe and correct in data. Appearing during the process of data collection, they result in gradual changes in structure factors and therefore have profound consequences in phasing procedures. Examples of various combinations of radiation-induced changes are presented and various considerations pertinent to the determination of the best strategies for handling diffraction data analysis in representative situations are discussed. [source]