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Analysis of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

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Intrinsically Disordered Protein Analysis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 896))

Abstract

Small-angle scattering of X-rays (SAXS) is a method for the low-resolution structural characterization of biological macromolecules in solution. The technique is highly complementary to the high-resolution methods of X-ray crystallography and NMR. SAXS not only provides shapes, oligomeric state, and quaternary structures of folded proteins and protein complexes but also allows for the quantitative analysis of flexible systems. Here, major procedures are presented to characterize intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) using SAXS. The sample requirements for SAXS experiments on protein solutions are given and the sequence of steps in data collection and processing is described. The use of the recently developed advanced computational tools to quantitatively characterize solutions of IDPs is presented in detail. Typical experimental and potential problems encountered during the use of SAXS are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

P.B. acknowledges funds from la Generalitat de Catalunya (grant SGR2009 1352), D.S. acknowledges an EU FP7 e-Infrastructures grant WeNMR (contract number 261572).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac, Barcelona, Spain

    Pau Bernadó

  2. Centre de Biochimie Structurale. CNRS UMR-5048, Montpellier, France

    Pau Bernadó

  3. European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Outstation, Hamburg, Germany

    Dmitri I. Svergun

Authors
  1. Pau Bernadó
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  2. Dmitri I. Svergun
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Pau Bernadó or Dmitri I. Svergun .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. DEPT OF MOLECULAR MED, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, BRUCE B DOWNS BLVD 12901, TAMPA, 33612, Florida, USA

    Vladimir N. Uversky

  2. Dept. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Center for Computational Biology &, Indiana University, West 10th Street 410, Indianapolis, 46202, Indiana, USA

    A. Keith Dunker

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Bernadó, P., Svergun, D.I. (2012). Analysis of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. In: Uversky, V., Dunker, A. (eds) Intrinsically Disordered Protein Analysis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 896. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3704-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3704-8_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3703-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3704-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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