Illuminating the Secrets of Crystals - Microcrystal Electron Diffraction in Structural Biology

Abstract

An exploration of the crystallographic theory of the relatively novel method of Microcrystal Electron Diffraction (MicroED), via comparison to X-ray crystallography at the theoretical and practical level as it applies to biological macromolecules. We then attempt to outline the limitations and challenges that the technique currently faces in structural biology, and suggest future areas of study that may improve and optimize the technique.