Biomolecular Crystallography

Biomolecular crystallography is a scientific technique used to determine the three-dimensional structures of biological molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, by analyzing their crystals. When these molecules are crystallized and X-ray beams pass through them, they scatter the X-rays in specific patterns. By studying these patterns, researchers can reconstruct the arrangement of atoms within the molecule, revealing its structure. Understanding these structures is crucial for insights into biological functions and processes, and it plays an important role in drug design and development in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology.