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Correlative Imaging and Spectroscopy of Biological Systems and Structural Dynamics


EMSL Project ID
47740

Abstract

The overall objective of this project is to create an integrative capability for combining dynamic transmission electron microscopy with femtosecond x-ray diffraction, in situ and automated secondary ion mass spectrometry and atom probe tomography to interrogate the structure and dynamics of biological systems. We will develop, adapt, and employ these state-of-the-art approaches to observe biological systems across multiple platforms with various spatial, temporal, and chemical resolutions. Key scientific ideas underlying the proposal involve: (a) assessing diffract-and-destroy compatibility with micro- and nanosecond single-shot electron pulses and femtosecond x-ray pulses; (b) acquiring movies of biological processes in real-time including conformational changes upon ligand binding and assembly/disassembly mechanisms; (c) designing and fabricating novel in situ flow cells that are more versatile for cross-platform analysis with electrons, x-rays and ions; (d) adapting nano-secondary ion mass spectrometry for robust serial section analysis of cells and tissues to provide 3-D chemical information; and (e) establish methodology (sample preparation and parameter optimization) to accurately reconstruct data of biomaterials using atom probe tomography. While the femtosecond x-ray diffraction will be performed at the Linac Coherent Light Source in California (already awarded 60 hours of LCLS beam time in 2013), all other instruments necessary for the success of this research are located at EMSL. The outcome of this research will be a centralized methodology that couples an array of advanced instrumentation techniques to obtain high spatial, chemical, and temporal resolution data of biological processes. The planned integration of imaging and spectroscopy platforms will yield a novel capability at EMSL for true multiscale and multimodal analysis and will enable a better understanding of many biological systems including biofilm organization, enzymatic energy transduction, and epithelial cell interactions with nanomaterial. Furthermore, the research will result in high-quality journal publications of both fundamental knowledge and state-of-the-art imaging technologies using facilities and equipment available at Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory.

Project Details

Start Date
2012-12-03
End Date
2013-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

James Evans
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Co-Investigator(s)

Daniel Perea
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Team Members

Xiao-Ying Yu
Institution
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Zhaoying Wang
Institution
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Bingwen Liu
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Yuping Li
Institution
University of Minnesota

Laurie Gower
Institution
University of Florida

Conrado Aparicio Badenas
Institution
University of Minnesota

Jia Liu
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Zihua Zhu
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Related Publications

Hua X, XY Yu, Z Wang, L Yang, B Liu, Z Zhu, AE Tucker, WB Chrisler, EA Hill, S Thevuthasan, Y Lin, S Liu, and MJ Marshall. 2014. "In situ molecular imaging of hydrated biofilm in a microfluidic reactor by ToF-SIMS." Analyst 139:1609-1613. doi:10.1039/C3AN02262E
Liu B, XY Yu, Z Zhu, X Hua, L Yang, and Z Wang. 2014. "In situ chemical probing of the electrode-electrolyte interface by ToF-SIMS." Lab on a Chip 14:855-859. doi:10.1039/C3LC50971K