Macromolecular Crystallography

Macromolecular crystallography is a powerful technique for analyzing the three-dimensional structures of large biological molecules, including proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids, at the atomic level of resolution. It is used to gain insight into how these molecules interact, understand how their structure is related to their function, and develop better drug treatments. By using X-rays to diffract off the surface of a crystallized sample, scientists can generate detailed three-dimensional maps of the molecular components of the sample. These maps, combined with powerful computational techniques, provide a detailed understanding of the molecular structure of the sample, including the identity of its atoms and their position in three-dimensional space. Macromolecular crystallography is a powerful tool for discovery and optimization in biochemistry, drug discovery, biomedical research, and other areas.