What is diffraction?
Diffraction is a scientific technique used at Diamond to help scientists to get a better understanding of how things work. We pass an X-ray beam through a sample and record the pattern created when the X-rays are scattered by the atoms within the sample.
In the case of biomedical research, the diffraction patterns produced can lead to a 3D representation of the structure of a molecule, such as a protein like the enzyme Serine Racemase (pictured to the right), an important biological target in the fight against pain and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Proteins are key to almost every physical, chemical and biological process in our body so it is important to understand as much as we can about them.
Proteins have an incredibly diverse range of functions: from providing structure, for instance, the keratin that makes fingernails and hair is a protein; to sending messages from one part of the body to another as a hormone, like insulin.
Knowing the shape and structure of a protein can help scientists to understand how it functions, this in turn can help to identify drug targets in the quest to design cures for specific diseases.
The animation below shows an experiment on a diffraction beamline.
Go further...
Can I visit Diamond Light Source?
How does the Diamond synchrotron work?