Quantitative imaging of single, unstained viruses with coherent x rays

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Oct 10;101(15):158101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.158101. Epub 2008 Oct 7.

Abstract

We report the recording and reconstruction of x-ray diffraction patterns from single, unstained viruses, for the first time. By separating the diffraction pattern of the virus particles from that of their surroundings, we performed quantitative and high-contrast imaging of a single virion. The structure of the viral capsid inside a virion was visualized. This work opens the door for quantitative x-ray imaging of a broad range of specimens from protein machineries and viruses to cellular organelles. Moreover, our experiment is directly transferable to the use of x-ray free electron lasers, and represents an experimental milestone towards the x-ray imaging of large protein complexes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods
  • Rhadinovirus / chemistry*
  • Virion / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction / instrumentation
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*