Assignment No: 2

Course code:
Biotech-711
Course name:
Viral Replication and
Recombination
Topic name:
“Differences between X-RAY
Crystallography, Cryo-Electron
Microscopy and NMR”

University of Agriculture Faisalabad

 X-RAY Crystallography
1 Determine the atomic and
molecular structure of
a crystal.
2 It is comparatively easier to
develop model through this
technique.
3 Molecules of varying
moleculer weight can be
studied by this technique.
4 Although it has high
resolution power but
crystallization and diffraction
are too difficult to carry out.
5 Crystallizable samples,
soluble proteins, complex
protein, membrane proteins,
ribosomes and DNA/RNA
structures are studied.
Cryo-Electron Microscopy
Sample is cooled
to cryogenic temperatures to
observe arrangement of
atoms in solids.
It is dependent on electron
microscopy for model
development that are costly.
Molecules of large moleculer
weight are preferable to
study.Although sample size
used for study is smaller.
Its resolution power is lower
as compare to other
techniques.
Structures of membrane
proteins, large proteins,
verions, complex compounds
are studied through this
technique.
NMR
Observe local magnetic
fields around atomic nuclei.
It needs computational
simulation for model
development.
Molecules with 40-50
kDAmoleculer weight are
preferable to study.
It has a high resolution
power and good for
dynamic study but required
sample purity is too high.
Water soluble samples are
studied.