Radiation Damage: A Beginner’s Guide to Radiation Damage
2009

A Beginner's Guide to Radiation Damage

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): James M. Holton

Primary Institution: University of California, San Francisco

Hypothesis

How can radiation damage to protein crystals be minimized during data collection?

Conclusion

Radiation damage can significantly affect data collection, but strategies exist to mitigate its impact.

Supporting Evidence

  • Radiation damage can prevent the solution of a structure.
  • Keeping X-ray exposure short can help avoid radiation damage.
  • Specific damage can occur faster than global damage in protein crystals.

Takeaway

When taking pictures of tiny crystals, too much light can ruin the picture. This guide helps scientists figure out how to use just the right amount of light.

Methodology

The paper summarizes radiation damage effects and suggests strategies for damage avoidance during data collection.

Limitations

The paper does not provide precise numbers for radiation damage effects, as many aspects are unpredictable.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1107/S0909049509004361

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