Journal Highlight: X-ray-induced photo-chemistry and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples

X-ray-induced photo-chemistry and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples

Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, 2012, 19, 875-886
Graham N. George, Ingrid J. Pickering, M. Jake Pushie, Kurt Nienaber, Mark J. Hackett, Isabella Ascone, Britt Hedman, Keith O. Hodgson, Jade B. Aitken, Aviva Levina, Christopher Glover, Peter A. Lay

Abstract: As synchrotron light sources and optics deliver greater photon flux on samples, X-ray-induced photo-chemistry is increasingly encountered in X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) experiments. The resulting problems are particularly pronounced for biological XAS experiments. This is because biological samples are very often quite dilute and therefore require signal averaging to achieve adequate signal-to-noise ratios, with correspondingly greater exposures to the X-ray beam. This paper reviews the origins of photo-reduction and photo-oxidation, the impact that they can have on active site structure, and the methods that can be used to provide relief from X-ray-induced photo-chemical artifacts.

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