This book provides a clear, comprehensible and up-to-date description of how Small Angle Scattering (SAS) can help structural biology researchers. SAS is an efficient technique that offers structural information on how biological macromolecules behave in solution. SAS provides distinct and complementary data for integrative structural biology approaches in combination with other widely used probes, such as X-ray crystallography, Nuclear magnetic resonance, Mass spectrometry and Cryo-electron Microscopy. The development of brilliant synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) beam lines has increased the number of researchers interested in solution scattering. SAS is especially useful for studying conformational changes in proteins, highly flexible proteins, and intrinsically disordered proteins. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with neutron contrast variation is ideally suited for studying multi-component assemblies as well as membrane proteins that are stabilized in surfactant micelles or vesicles. SAS is also used for studying dynamic processes of protein fibrillation in amyloid diseases, and pharmaceutical drug delivery. The combination with size-exclusion chromatography further increases the range of SAS applications. The book is written by leading experts in solution SAS methodologies. The principles and theoretical background of various SAS techniques are included, along with practical aspects that range from sample preparation to data presentation for publication. Topics covered include techniques for improving data quality and analysis, as well as different scientific applications of SAS. With abundant illustrations and practical tips, we hope the clear explanations of the principles and the reviews on the latest progresses will serve as a guide through all aspects of biological solution SAS. The scope of this book is particularly relevant for structural biology researchers who are new to SAS. Advanced users of the technique will find it helpful for exploring the diversity of solution SAS methods and applications. Chapter 3 of this book is available open access under a CC BY 4.0 license at link.springer.com.

Small angle solution scattering (SAS) is increasingly being applied to biological problems. It is a complementary technique that, when applied in appropriate circumstances with carefully structured questions, can provide unique information not available from other techniques. While small angle solution scattering has been around for some time, a confluence of recent developments has dramatically enhanced its power. Intense third generation X-ray sources, low noise detectors, development of new algorithms and the computational power to take advantage of these have all matured, and use of free-electron x-ray laser sources is on the horizon. Whole new classes of experiments and analyses have been created as a result. These include the generation of molecular envelopes, the ability to do time-resolved studies, and the ability to account for structural changes using modelling based on the SAS data. The technical improvements have also reduced the amount of time and material needed to carry out an experiment. Beamtime at synchrotron sources is in demand, workshops on the subject are popular and researchers adopting the technique as part of their repertoire are growing. With these in mind, this book was written to guide structural biologists who may wish to adopt the technique, understand its strengths and weaknesses or just have a general interest in its potential.

Small Angle Scattering, Part A: Methods for Structural Investigation, Volume 675 in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights new advances in the field, with new chapters in this updated release including SAXS foundations and metrics, Contrast variation sample preparation protocols, experimental procedures, and rudimentary analysis, Molecular deuteration for neutron scattering, Planning, Executing and Assessing the Feasibility of SANS Contrast Variation Experiments, Technical considerations for small-angle neutron scattering from biological macromolecules, and Advanced sample environments and capabilities at our synchrotron X-ray beamline with example applications. Additional sections in the book cover SEC-SAXS-MALS data acquisition and processing pipeline at SIBYLS, SEC-SAXS: pros and cons, experimental set-up, examples and software developments, Radiation damage and sample economy for stopped-flow methods in the time regime of millisecond and above, Stopped-flow-time-resolved SAXS, Insights on Temp-jump, time-resolved SAXS, and much more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology series Includes the latest information on Small Angle Scattering: Methods for Structural Investigation

Small angle solution scattering is now often applied to biological problems. When applied in appropriate circumstances with carefully structured questions, the technique can provide unique information not available from other techniques. This book offers understanding of the experiments with a simple and intuitive approach to the underlying theory.

Scattering Methods in Structural Biology, Part B, Volume 676 in the Methods in Enzymology serial, highlights advances in the field, presenting chapters on Quality controls, Refining biomolecular structures and ensembles by SAXS-driven molecular dynamics simulations, Data analysis and modelling of small-angle scattering data with contrast variation, Observing protein degradation in solution by the PAN-20S proteasome complex: state-of-the-art and future perspectives of TR-SANS as a complementary tool to NMR, crystallography and Cryo-EM, Extracting structural insights from chemically-specific soft X-ray scattering, Reconstruction of 3D density of biological macromolecules from solution scattering, ATSAS- present state and new developments in computational methods, and much more. Additional chapters cover Modeling Structure and Dynamics of Protein Complexes with SAXS Profiles (FoXSDock and MultiFoXS), Validation of macromolecular flexibility in solution by SAXS, Combining NMR, SAXS and SANS to characterize the structure and dynamics of protein complexes, Application of Molecular Simulation Methods to Analyze SAS Data, and more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology serial Updated release includes the latest information on Small Angle Scattering Methods for Structural Interpretation

Small Angle Scattering, Part A: Methods for Structural Investigation, Volume 675 in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights new advances in the field, with new chapters in this updated release including SAXS foundations and metrics, Contrast variation sample preparation protocols, experimental procedures, and rudimentary analysis, Molecular deuteration for neutron scattering, Planning, Executing and Assessing the Feasibility of SANS Contrast Variation Experiments, Technical considerations for small-angle neutron scattering from biological macromolecules, and Advanced sample environments and capabilities at our synchrotron X-ray beamline with example applications. Additional sections in the book cover SEC-SAXS-MALS data acquisition and processing pipeline at SIBYLS, SEC-SAXS: pros and cons, experimental set-up, examples and software developments, Radiation damage and sample economy for stopped-flow methods in the time regime of millisecond and above, Stopped-flow-time-resolved SAXS, Insights on Temp-jump, time-resolved SAXS, and much more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology series Includes the latest information on Small Angle Scattering: Methods for Structural Investigation

Scattering Methods in Structural Biology, Part B, Volume 676 in the Methods in Enzymology serial, highlights advances in the field, presenting chapters on Quality controls, Refining biomolecular structures and ensembles by SAXS-driven molecular dynamics simulations, Data analysis and modelling of small-angle scattering data with contrast variation, Observing protein degradation in solution by the PAN-20S proteasome complex: state-of-the-art and future perspectives of TR-SANS as a complementary tool to NMR, crystallography and Cryo-EM, Extracting structural insights from chemically-specific soft X-ray scattering, Reconstruction of 3D density of biological macromolecules from solution scattering, ATSAS- present state and new developments in computational methods, and much more. Additional chapters cover Modeling Structure and Dynamics of Protein Complexes with SAXS Profiles (FoXSDock and MultiFoXS), Validation of macromolecular flexibility in solution by SAXS, Combining NMR, SAXS and SANS to characterize the structure and dynamics of protein complexes, Application of Molecular Simulation Methods to Analyze SAS Data, and more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology serial Updated release includes the latest information on Small Angle Scattering Methods for Structural Interpretation