Crystallography for non crystallographers

What is protein crystallography used for?
“Protein Crystallography is a form of very high-resolution microscopy, which enables scientists to “see” at atomic resolution.
It allows us to see beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful light microscope..
Why do crystallographers study crystals?
Crystallographers use the properties and inner structures of crystals to determine the arrangement of atoms and generate knowledge that is used by chemists, physicists, biologists, and others..
But the technique doesn't just look at naturally-occurring crystals.
Almost any material can be crystallised.
This means crystallography can be used to understand how the immune system fights off viruses.
Or it can be used by robotic rovers to search for hints of life in Martian soil samples.
Technique.
As has been mentioned, the three types of diffusion techniques used in crystallography are X-rays, neutrons, and electrons.
Many other analytical techniques are also employed in crystallographic studies, such as X-ray fluorescence, spectroscopic techniques, and computer visualization and modeling.

This review attempts to provide a brief outline of technical aspects of crystallography and to explain the meaning of some parameters that should be evaluated

Do crystallographers need a glossary?

An important addition to the previously published material –is a glossary presented at the end of the present review, in which we define the terms that need to be known by all practicing crystallographers, with some of them being also useful for noncrystallographers who utilize structural data

How does structural crystallography work?

Structural crystallography relies almost exclusively on the scattering of X-rays by the electrons in the molecules constituting the investigated sample

(Some other scattering methods, for example, of neutrons or electrons, although very important, are responsible for only a tiny fraction of the published macromolecular structures

)

Is protein crystallography for non-crystallographers useful?

Although the title was ‘Protein crystallography for non-crystallographers …’, the review contained material that could be useful also to less-experienced practitioners of this field

We have learned that that review has been used in many academic and commercial structural biology laboratories as a manual for new members

The International Organization for Biological Crystallization (IOBCr) is a non-profit, scientific organization for scientists who study the crystallization of biological macromolecules and develop crystallographic methodologies for their study.
It was founded in 2002 to create a permanent organ for the organization of the International Conferences for the crystallization of Biological Macromolecules (ICCBM).
The ICCBM conferences are organized biannually with venues that change regularly to maintain an international character.
The objective of the IOBCr is the exchange of research results and encourage practical applications of biological crystallization.
It organizes and supports interdisciplinary workshops.
The attendance at the ICCBM meetings includes bio-crystallographers, biochemists, physicists, and engineers.
The last International Conferences on Crystallization of Biological Macromolecules ICCBM15 was held in Hamburg, Germany.

Crystallography for non crystallographers

What is protein crystallography used for?

Why do crystallographers study crystals?

Do crystallographers need a glossary?

How does structural crystallography work?

Is protein crystallography for non-crystallographers useful?