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Title: Quantitative Imaging of Single, Unstained Viruses with Coherent X Rays

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
; ; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095 (United States)
  2. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095 (United States)
  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Texas 77030 (United States)
  4. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095 (United States)
  5. RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148 (Japan)

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.

OSTI ID:
21179805
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 101, Issue 15; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.158101; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English