Structural investigations of biomolecules under extreme conditions

Abstract

Scattering methods like small-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray reflectivity enable to perform in situ studies on biomolecules under various conditions of temperature and pressure. These methods are employed in this work to shed light on the changes of size and shape as well as on the interactions between biomolecules under extreme conditions. Most of these aim to simulate conditions of temperature and pressures encountered in hydrothermal vents in the deep sea, where life might have evolved. This work includes many examples from all classes of biomolecules, lipids, nucleic acids as well as peptides and proteins, ranging from fairly simple to very complex systems.