Low-Resolution X-ray Structure Determination
Author Information
Author(s): Brunger Axel T., DeLaBarre Byron, Davies Jason M., Weis William I.
Primary Institution: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University
Hypothesis
Can low-resolution X-ray diffraction data still provide meaningful structural information?
Conclusion
Refinement of low-resolution crystal structures can yield significant improvements in model quality when high-resolution structures are available for comparison.
Supporting Evidence
- Refinement is meaningful even at 4 Å or lower.
- The free R values dropped by as much as 5% compared with the original structure refinements.
- High-resolution structures should be used as starting points for refinement.
Takeaway
Even if the pictures are blurry, scientists can still figure out what things look like by starting with clearer images. This helps them make better models of proteins.
Methodology
The study involved molecular replacement and refinement techniques using low-resolution diffraction data and high-resolution structures as starting points.
Limitations
De novo model building is challenging at low resolution, leading to potential errors in structure tracing.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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