De novo phasing with optimized XFEL data

Nass et al. [IUCrJ (2016), 3, 180–191] have demonstrated that serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) data collected at X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) can be successfully phased using only the weak anomalous scattering from the native S atoms.

Structures of C-mannosylated anti-adhesives bound to the type 1 fimbrial FimH adhesin

A comparison of the different conformations adopted by C-glycosylated mannosides in FimH crystal structures is reported together with the investigation of new interactions.

Use of a miniature diamond-anvil cell in high-pressure single-crystal neutron Laue diffraction

High-pressure single-crystal neutron Laue diffraction yields data suitable for fully anisotropic structure refinement, allowing joint X-ray and neutron studies of exactly the same sample. Remarkably, data completeness is similar to ambient-pressure measurements, despite the presence of a pressure cell.

Protein structure determination by single-wavelength anomalous diffraction phasing of X-ray free-electron laser data

A systematic analysis of anomalous diffraction data obtained by serial femtosecond crystallography at an X-ray free-electron laser is presented and sulfur SAD phasing of SFX data from thaumatin microcrystals is demonstrated.

A co-crystal between benzene and ethane: a potential evaporite material for Saturn's moon Titan

A 3:1 stoichiometric co-crystal of benzene and ethane has been structurally characterized at 90 K using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction following in situ crystal growth at 130 K. The conditions under which the co-crystal forms identify it as a potential evaporite material on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.

Application of X-ray topography to USSR and Russian space materials science

The application of X-ray diffraction topography in space materials science has promoted the acquisition of fundamental knowledge of space as a new technological environment. It has allowed a better understanding of the processes occurring during melt crystallization and the improvement of terrestrial methods of crystal growth for growing more homogeneous crystals.

In situ ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering study under uniaxial stretching of colloidal crystals prepared by silica nanoparticles bearing hydrogen-bonding polymer grafts

The change in the crystal structure of polymer-grafted nanoparticles during uniaxial stretching was investigated by simultaneous ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering and stress–strain measurement.

Peculiar orientational disorder in 4-bromo-4′-nitrobi­phenyl (BNBP) and 4-bromo-4′-cyanobi­phenyl (BCNBP) leading to bipolar crystals

Two dipolar biphenyls show significant 180° orientational disorder resulting in bipolar as-grown crystals. An added symmetrical biphenyl interferes with polarity formation and inverts the initial bipolar state.