Analysis of Biomembrane Structure and its Interaction with Proteins by the Complementary Use of Neutron and Synchrotron Radiation X-ray

Abstract

Currently, the use of synchrotron radiation X-ray is a quite important and general approach not only for the basic research in the field of life and material science, but also for various in dustrial applications, such as drug designs and new-materials developments. For this reason, in Eu rope and the United States, as well in Asia, Oceania, and South America, the constructions of new large-facilities of synchrotron radiation have been continued. On the other hand, despite usefulness of neutron in material research as similar as synchrotron radiation X-ray, the use of neutron is limited since it requires a dedicated reactor or large-accelerator. On this point, Japan realizes favorable environment for material research because we can use the synchrotron radiation large-facilities such as SPring-8 and KEK-PF, and the research reactor JRR-3M and the pulsed neutron source (J-PARC MLF) creating the world’s highest beam-flux intensity. Further, the neutron is suitable for observing the structure and dynamics of biological material and soft matter containing amounts of hydrogen atoms that are hard to detect for synchrotron radiation X-ray. By the combination of both, we can obtain a unique structural information. In this report, I will introduce about some application examples on the biomembrane structure and the interaction between biomembrane and protein by using neutron and synchrotron radiation X-ray complementary.