I came across a rather fascinating article at sciencedaily.com. This article was entitled “Breakthrough allows researchers to watch molecules,” I was immediately hooked. This article is about University of Leeds developing this new crystallographic technique that allows scientists to observe how molecules function. This is a new way to watch changes within the structure of molecules rather than using the crystallography to examine molecules that required advanced instrumentation that is only available at three sites in the world. This new method is a breakthrough because it will allow researchers across the world to do crystallography and will improve the science community with new discoveries on how exactly molecules work. This new research could contribute to the development of “novel smart materials or new drugs”. This research will also contribute to the world because understanding how structure is linked to function is important in designing better medicines that are targeted at specific sites of molecules and could also help avoid undesirable side effects.
This new method allows researchers to synchronize their molecules and activate them. They then make a series of crystallographic “probes” of the moving structure using a pattern of light pulses. These pulses build up a single crystallographic image. They repeat the experiment using different light pulses and create a “long exposure” image. The long exposure photos will be blurred but the difference between the photos is what the researchers identify of the molecules changing structure. The researchers are very trilled with this new method because they no longer need a clear snapshot, which overcomes the many limitations that the old methods presented. This new method is also extremely exciting because it uses existing equipment in a new way to explore new aspects of science.
Submitted by Erica Schulz
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