In his postdoctoral studies, David Haas set out to reduce radiation damage to protein crystals during X-ray crystallography. In 1970, he published a paper on his invention of macromolecular cryocrystallography – freezing crystals to extend their lifetime in the X-ray beam. The widespread use of the synchrotron beginning in the 1970s made cryo-cooling essential, and today nearly all protein crystal structures deposited in the international Protein Data Bank use this method.
View the full talk with additional resources on our website
The Discovery of Macromolecular Cryocrystallography
Dr. David Haas shares the story behind his invention of macromolecular cryocrystallography. (Talk recorded in December 2019)
- Part 1: Cryo-cooling Protein Crystals: The First 52 YearsAudience:
- General Public
- Student
- Researcher
- Educators
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:15:31 - Part 2: HIV and Structural BiologyAudience:
- General Public
- Student
- Researcher
- Educators
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:07:28