🔬SACLA realizes visualization of enzyme reaction
RIKEN (RIKEN) Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute Castle The collaborative research group of Biomaterial Science Laboratory has developed a technology to visualize chemical reactions occurring in vivo at the X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility SACLA .
In the past, it was difficult for the enzyme to look at the structure during the reaction of the enzyme even though the structure was seen when the enzyme was stopped, such as before or after the reaction.
This time, the collaborative research group developed a technique to see the structure at the atomic level during the reaction of the enzyme by combining the caged compound releasing the substrate with high-quality X-rays of SACLA when irradiated with light . Using that technique, we succeeded in capturing the structure at the moment when nitric oxide reductase takes up the reaction partner molecule.
By using this technology, future work of various enzymes will be elucidated, understanding of life phenomena will be advanced, and application to new drug design and development etc. can be expected.
This research will be published in the international scientific journal “Nature Communications” (November 17: Japan time November 17). RIKEN
http://www.riken.jp/pr/press/2017/20171117_2/