journal article·2025-08-01Open access

A new route for the determination of protein structure and function

S. H. Mejias, R. Mincigrucci, A. Beratto-Ramos, C. Svetina, A. L. Cortajarena, C. Masciovecchio

AIP Advances· Volume 15· Issue 8

Abstract

Understanding complex biological macromolecules, especially proteins, is vital for grasping their diverse chemical functions with direct impact on biology and pharmacology. Techniques such as x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy face limitations such as radiation damage and difficulties in crystallizing certain proteins. To address this, we present a strategic concept involving engineered protein scaffolds to create ordered arrays of proteins with controlled orientations, aiming at enhancing the signal at the detector. This innovative strategy opens avenues to solve the existing challenges for determining protein structures under physiological conditions. Moreover, it holds promise for studying conformational changes resulting from photoinduced changes, protein–drug, and/or protein–protein interactions. In the near future, our group will focus on showing the potential of the proposed strategy by combining molecular biology, protein self-assembly, and x-ray spectroscopy.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Enzyme Structure and Function · Protein Structure and Dynamics · Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

IMDEA-Nanoscience, Campus de Cantoblanco 1 , 28049 Madrid,

Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC)–IMDEA Nanociencia Associated Unit “Unidad de Nanobiotechnología,” 2 Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid,

Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste 3 , S.S. 14 km 163, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste,

European XFEL 4 , Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld,

Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) 5 , Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián 20014,

Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science 6 , 48009 Bilbao,

Funding

Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · “la Caixa” Foundation · Fundación BBVA · Tecnologias 2024 Program · Ayudas de atracción de Talento Investigador “César Nombela” · Spanish State Research Agency · The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · The National Agency of Research and Development

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