Berkeley Synchrotron Infrared Structural Biology (BSISB) Imaging Program
Authors:
Neslihan Taş*, Peter Zwart*, Nowzesh Hasan, Hoi-Ying N. Holman ([email protected], PI)
Institutions:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
URLs:
Goals
BSISB Missions:
1. Increase synchrotron radiation-based Fourier- transform infrared (SR-FTIR) capabilities accessible to BER users through Berkeley Synchrotron Infrared Structural Biology (BSISB) for tracking the locations and concentrations of chemical events in biological samples.
2. Enhance chemical identification capabilities available to users through subsequent mass spectrometry characterization of SR-FTIR informed regions of interest.
3. Enable autonomous experimentation for improved temporal resolution and faster, more efficient experiments for scientific discoveries at infrared beamlines at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Advanced Light Source (ALS).
4. Support the diverse and evolving research interests and adapt to the changing needs of the user community through user-stimulated technology development and refinement.
Abstract
The Berkeley Synchrotron Infrared Structural Biology (BSISB) imaging program is a BER-funded national user resource at three infrared (IR) beamlines at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) in Berkeley, Calif. Synchrotron IR (SIR) radiation spans the far-, mid-, and near-IR. It is 100 to 1,000 times brighter than a conventional thermal source, enabling broadband spectroscopic imaging with high signal-to-noise ratios. Spatial resolution is diffraction-limited for SIR spectromicroscopy or microspectroscopy, and well beyond the diffraction limit for SIR nanospectroscopy. By probing molecular and lattice vibrations, low-energy electronic excitations, and related collective plasmon and phonon resonances, SIR spectroscopy enables high spatial resolution measurements of heterogeneity in biological, chemical, and physical properties. Current capabilities enable the imaging of engineered, natural/living samples at the micro- and nanoscale. This poster presentation offers an overview of SIR as a unique method for chemical imaging. The team then provides an overview of the following capabilities available through BSISB as well as example applications: SR-FTIR spectromicroscopy, SR-FTIR nanospectroscopy, Autonomous Adaptive Data Acquisition, Integrated SR-FTIR with ambient atmospheric infrared ablation mass spectrometry, time-resolved imaging of chemical events, and membrane microfluidics to circumvent water interference.
Funding Information
The Berkeley Synchrotron Infrared Structural Biology (BSISB) is supported by DOE Office of Science, BER program. Advanced Light Source is supported by DOE Office of Science user facility operating. Both BSISB and ALS are under contract DE-AC02-05CH11231.