Abstract

Introduction: Proteins are biological nanoparticles. For structural proteomics and hybrid structural biology, complementary methods are required that allow both high throughput and accurate automated data analysis. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a method for observing the size and shape of particles, such as proteins and complexes, in solution. SAXS data can be used to model both the structure, oligomeric state, conformational changes, and flexibility of biomolecular samples.

Areas covered: The key principles of SAXS, its sample requirements, and its current and future applications for structural proteomics are briefly reviewed. Recent technical developments in SAXS experiments are discussed, and future potential of the method in structural proteomics is evaluated.

Expert opinion: SAXS is a method suitable for several aspects of integrative structural proteomics, with current technical developments allowing for higher throughput and time-resolved studies, as well as the analysis of complex samples, such as membrane proteins. Increasing automation and streamlined data analysis are expected to equip SAXS for structure-based screening workflows. Originally, structural genomics had a heavy focus on folded, crystallizable proteins and complexes – SAXS is a method allowing an expansion of this focus to flexible and disordered systems.

摘要

简介：蛋白质是生物纳米颗粒。对于结构蛋白质组学和混合结构生物学，需要能够实现高通量和准确的自动化数据分析的互补方法。小角 X 射线散射 (SAXS) 是一种用于观察溶液中颗粒（例如蛋白质和复合物）的大小和形状的方法。SAXS 数据可用于对生物分子样品的结构、寡聚状态、构象变化和灵活性进行建模。

涵盖的领域：简要回顾了 SAXS 的关键原理、样品要求及其当前和未来在结构蛋白质组学中的应用。讨论了 SAXS 实验的最新技术发展，并评估了该方法在结构蛋白质组学中的未来潜力。

专家意见：SAXS 是一种适用于综合结构蛋白质组学多个方面的方法，目前的技术发展允许更高的通量和时间分辨研究，以及复杂样品的分析，如膜蛋白。预计提高自动化和简化数据分析将使 SAXS 具备基于结构的筛选工作流程。最初，结构基因组学重点关注折叠的、可结晶的蛋白质和复合物——SAXS 是一种允许将这一重点扩展到灵活和无序系统的方法。