Diffraction from protein powder is a relatively new
development which requires the beam properties of
synchrotrons. As you know, of course, the number
of Debye-Scherrer rings are increasing dramatically
with diffraction angle. Since proteins have such
a large unit cell, the reflections are very closely
spaced in angle and make the ring pattern 
extremely crowded. Only with advanced data reduction
methods the overlap of the ring intensities can be
deconvoluted up to a certain resolution. This is 
typically in the 3 A range for moderately sized
proteins. So, I dont expect any review to be older
than 10 years.
>From the literature I know that the structures that
come out of these investigations are identical or
at least extremely similar to those from single
crystals.

Greetings
Marius

> It would be interesting to know about such reviews if they exist.
> 
> I would worry that in powder form the structure of the protein is not
> the same as in solution, that is, proteins would denature upon
> dehydration. So are there any powders for which the structure is
> still intact? 
> 
> Conversely, in crystalline form, we know that the structure is (can
> be) relevant. The best example I can think of that borders on your
> question is the case of insulin. Insulin is stored and preserved in
> crystalline form and the crystals are very small and the protein is
> active (so the structure must be relevant). (The size of the crystals
> matters for medical purposes, that's another story.) So when we think
> of a powder as a collection of very small crystals - as is typically
> the case in organic and inorganic chemistry, then your question is
> very good indeed. But other than insulin, I cannot think of many
> examples. Lysozyme is sold as a crystalline powder. So are some other
> egg proteins, such as albumin, lactalbumin, etc. In a lot of other
> cases a crystalline suspension is sold (for example xylose
> isomerase), but I think it does not survive when dried. 
> 
> If experiments have been done and reviews have been written, I would
> expect them to be old (>30-40 years).
> 
> Mark
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marius Schmidt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
> Sent: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:59 pm
> Subject: [ccp4bb]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Somebody out there who could direct me to
> a nice review of protein powder diffractometry
> including the application of Rietveld refinement
> to such data.
> 
> Any hint appreciated
> many thanks in advance
> 
> Marius
> 
> Dr.habil. Marius Schmidt
> Asst. Professor
> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
> Department of Physics Room 454
> 1900 E. Kenwood Blvd.
> Milwaukee, WI 53211
> 
> phone: +1-414-229-4338
> email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://users.physik.tu-muenchen.de/marius/
> 
> 
>  
> 
> _____________________________________________________________________
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Dr.habil. Marius Schmidt
Asst. Professor
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Department of Physics Room 454
1900 E. Kenwood Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53211

phone: +1-414-229-4338
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://users.physik.tu-muenchen.de/marius/

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