Scattering Methods in Molecular Biophysics

1. Elastic X-ray scattering at an electron, atom, molecule and protein crystal

2. The Phase problem of X-ray structure analysis and how to solve it

3. Static structure distribution and dynamics of biomolecules

4. Diffuse scattering

5. Time resolved X-ray structure determination with the Laue method

6. Elastic and inelastic neutron scattering

7. Small angle scattering

8. Generation and detection of X-rays and neutrons

After successful participation in this module, the students master crystal structure analysis with X-rays and neutrons as complementary methods. For them, reciprocal space is a tool for simple and fast visualization of scattering processes. The students understand the importance of the energy resolution of a scattering method, the difference between static structure distribution and dynamic of the molecule.

There are no prerequisites required exceeding the admission requirements for the Master's programme.

Within the lecture it is explained, how the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules like proteins or DNA can be obtained by the coherent scattering of X-rays and neutrons. The generation of X-rays and neutrons, their specific interaction with the sample and their detection will be discussed. An active participation of the students in the form of questions, comments and discussions is very welcome. The acquired knowledge is deepened by exercises in which the learned is applied in the form of illustrative calculations.

The contents of the course will be presented as PowerPoint slides. Supplements are either written directly into the slides or onto the whiteboard. A pdf version of the content without the supplements is available on Moodle shortly before the start of each lecture.

Powerpoint presentation; Whiteboard; Script; Lab visit; Exercises

• Tilman Butz
  Fourier Transformation for Pedestrians, Springer Publishing, 2015
  https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-16985-9
• Jan Drenth
  Principles of X-ray protein crystallography, Springer Publishing, 2007
  https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/0-387-33746-6
• Jens Als-Nielsen & Des McMorrow
  Elements of Modern X-ray Physics (2nd ed.), Wiley, 2011 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119998365

There will be an oral exam of 25 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using comprehension questions.

For example an assignment in the exam might be:

• • Sketch the setup of an undulator/wiggler and explain the spectra of the emitted synchrotron radiation.
• • What is the phase problem of X-ray structure analysis and how can it be solved?
• • What can be achieved by the deuteration in neutron structure analysis?

In the exam no learning aids are permitted.

Participation in the exercise classes is strongly recommended since the exercises prepare for the problems of the exam and rehearse the specific competencies.