Molecular structure from X-ray diffraction

Abstract

While there are some developments in structure solution and refinement, these represent gradual improvements rather than fundamental leaps in methodology. An exception is the assessment of crystal quality by X-ray diffraction topography using a dedicated solid-state electronic detector; this is an elegant example where the precise physical nature of the crystal has been studied and analyzed. Similarly, using medial axis analysis of calculated electron density potentially extends automatic structure building to substantially lower resolution. Phase analysis by crystallography of powdered lysozyme shows that this is likely to be of real use, rather than an intellectual curiosity.