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Trends in Biotechnology Jan 2021Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) are promising for sustainable applications. Recently, electron storage during intermittent operation of electroactive... (Review)
Review
Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) are promising for sustainable applications. Recently, electron storage during intermittent operation of electroactive biofilms (EABs) has been shown to play an important role in power output and electron efficiencies. Insights into electron storage mechanisms, and the conditions under which these occur, are essential to improve microbial electrochemical conversions and to optimize biotechnological processes. Here, we discuss the two main mechanisms for electron storage in EABs: storage in the form of reduced redox active components in the electron transport chain and in the form of polymers. We review electron storage in EABs and in other microorganisms and will discuss how the mechanisms of electron storage can be influenced.
Topics: Bioelectric Energy Sources; Biofilms; Electrodes; Electrons; Oxidation-Reduction
PubMed: 32646618
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.06.006 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2022Part of the energy deposited in biological tissue by high-energy radiation is converted to secondary electrons. The knowledge at the molecular level on radiation...
Part of the energy deposited in biological tissue by high-energy radiation is converted to secondary electrons. The knowledge at the molecular level on radiation interaction with biological species has increased due to the contributions of many different scientists working on radiation physics and radiation chemistry. The intention of this Special Issue on electron and photon interactions with (bio) molecules is to bring together different areas of knowledge that focus on radiation interactions with matter.
Topics: Electrons; Photons
PubMed: 36555138
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415491 -
Nano Letters Dec 2022Transmission electron microscopy is a basic technique used for examining matter at the highest magnification scale available. One of its most challenging branches is in... (Review)
Review
Transmission electron microscopy is a basic technique used for examining matter at the highest magnification scale available. One of its most challenging branches is in situ microscopy, in which dynamic processes are observed in real time. Among the various stimuli, like strain, temperature, and magnetic or electric fields, the light-matter interaction is rarely observed. However, in recent years, a significant increase in the interest in this technique has been observed. Therefore, I present a summary and critical review of all the in situ experiments performed with light, various technical possibilities for bringing radiation inside the transmission electron microscope, and the most important differences between the effects of light and electrons on the studied matter. Finally, I summarize the most promising directions for further research using light excitation.
Topics: Electrons; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Electricity; Magnetics
PubMed: 36442075
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c03669 -
Chemical Reviews Sep 2022Electron crystallography has a storied history which rivals that of its more established X-ray-enabled counterpart. Recent advances in data collection and analysis have... (Review)
Review
Electron crystallography has a storied history which rivals that of its more established X-ray-enabled counterpart. Recent advances in data collection and analysis have sparked a renaissance in the field, opening a new chapter for this venerable technique. Burgeoning interest in electron crystallography has spawned innovative methods described by various interchangeable labels (3D ED, MicroED, cRED, etc.). This Review covers concepts and findings relevant to the practicing crystallographer, with an emphasis on experiments aimed at using electron diffraction to elucidate the atomic structure of three-dimensional molecular crystals.
Topics: Crystallography, X-Ray; Electrons
PubMed: 35970513
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00879 -
Journal of Structural Biology Dec 2022Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) uses electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to collect diffraction data from small crystals during continuous rotation of the...
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) uses electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to collect diffraction data from small crystals during continuous rotation of the sample. As a result of advances in hardware as well as methods development, the data quality has continuously improved over the past decade, to the point where even macromolecular structures can be determined ab initio. Detectors suitable for electron diffraction should ideally have fast readout to record data in movie mode, and high sensitivity at low exposure rates to accurately report the intensities. Direct electron detectors are commonly used in cryo-EM imaging for their sensitivity and speed, but despite their availability are generally not used in diffraction. Primary concerns with diffraction experiments are the dynamic range and coincidence loss, which will corrupt the measurement if the flux exceeds the count rate of the detector. Here, we describe instrument setup and low-exposure MicroED data collection in electron-counting mode using K2 and K3 direct electron detectors and show that the integrated intensities can be effectively used to solve structures of two macromolecules between 1.2 Å and 2.8 Å resolution. Even though a beam stop was not used with the K3 studies we did not observe damage to the camera. As these cameras are already available in many cryo-EM facilities, this provides opportunities for users who do not have access to dedicated facilities for MicroED.
Topics: Electrons
PubMed: 36044956
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107886 -
Extremophiles : Life Under Extreme... Oct 2022The interaction of bacteria and archaea with electrodes is a relatively new research field which spans from fundamental to applied research and influences... (Review)
Review
The interaction of bacteria and archaea with electrodes is a relatively new research field which spans from fundamental to applied research and influences interdisciplinary research in the fields of microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology as well as process engineering. Although a substantial understanding of electron transfer processes between microbes and anodes and between microbes and cathodes has been achieved in mesophilic organisms, the mechanisms used by microbes under extremophilic conditions are still in the early stages of discovery. Here, we review our current knowledge on the biochemical solutions that evolved for the interaction of extremophilic organisms with electrodes. To this end, the available knowledge on pure cultures of extremophilic microorganisms has been compiled and the study has been extended with the help of bioinformatic analyses on the potential distribution of different electron transfer mechanisms in extremophilic microorganisms.
Topics: Archaea; Electrodes; Electron Transport; Electrons; Extremophiles
PubMed: 36222927
DOI: 10.1007/s00792-022-01279-8 -
Journal of the American Chemical Society Jan 2022Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) underpins energy conversion in chemistry and biology. Four energy systems are described whose discoveries are based on PCET: the...
Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) underpins energy conversion in chemistry and biology. Four energy systems are described whose discoveries are based on PCET: the water splitting chemistry of the Artificial Leaf, the carbon fixation chemistry of the Bionic Leaf-C, the nitrogen fixation chemistry of the Bionic Leaf-N and the Coordination Chemistry Flow Battery (CCFB). Whereas the Artificial Leaf, Bionic Leaf-C, and Bionic Leaf-N require strong coupling between electron and proton to reduce energetic barriers to enable high energy efficiencies, the CCFB requires complete decoupling of the electron and proton so as to avoid parasitic energy-wasting reactions. The proper design of PCET in these systems facilitates their implementation in the areas of (i) centralized large scale grid storage of electricity and (ii) decentralized energy storage/conversion using only sunlight, air and any water source to produce fuel and food within a sustainable cycle for the biogenic elements of C, N and P.
Topics: Electrons
PubMed: 35023740
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c10444 -
Drug Discovery Today. Technologies Dec 2020Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) has recently shown to be a promising technique for structure determination in structural biology and pharmaceutical... (Review)
Review
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) has recently shown to be a promising technique for structure determination in structural biology and pharmaceutical chemistry. Here, we discuss the unique properties of electrons and motivate its use for diffraction experiments. We review the latest developments in MicroED, and illustrate its applications in macromolecular crystallography, fragment screening and structure guided drug discovery. We discuss the perspectives of MicroED in synthetic chemistry and pharmaceutical development. We anticipate that the rapid advances MicroED showcased here will promote further development of electron crystallography and open up new opportunities for drug discovery.
Topics: Crystallography, X-Ray; Electrons; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 34895659
DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2020.12.002 -
Annual Review of Biophysics May 2023Single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has matured into a robust method for the determination of biological macromolecule structures in the past decade,... (Review)
Review
Single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has matured into a robust method for the determination of biological macromolecule structures in the past decade, complementing X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Constant methodological improvements in both cryo-EM hardware and image processing software continue to contribute to an exponential growth in the number of structures solved annually. In this review, we provide a historical view of the many steps that were required to make cryo-EM a successful method for the determination of high-resolution protein complex structures. We further discuss aspects of cryo-EM methodology that are the greatest pitfalls challenging successful structure determination to date. Lastly, we highlight and propose potential future developments that would improve the method even further in the near future.
Topics: Cryoelectron Microscopy; Electrons; Single Molecule Imaging
PubMed: 37159297
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-111622-091300 -
Chemical Reviews Oct 2021In the past few years, many exciting papers reported results based on crystal structure determination by electron diffraction. The aim of this review is to provide... (Review)
Review
In the past few years, many exciting papers reported results based on crystal structure determination by electron diffraction. The aim of this review is to provide general and practical information to structural chemists interested in stepping into this emerging field. We discuss technical characteristics of electron microscopes for research units that would like to acquire their own instrumentation, as well as those practical aspects that appear different between X-ray and electron crystallography. We also include a discussion about applications where electron crystallography provides information that is different, and possibly complementary, with respect to what is available from X-ray crystallography.
Topics: Crystallography, X-Ray; Electrons
PubMed: 34533919
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00207