Neutrons Provide the First Nanoscale Look at a Living Cell Membrane (IMAGE)

DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Neutrons Provide the First Nanoscale Look at a Living Cell Membrane

Caption

Neutron scattering is a valuable technique for studying cell membranes, but signals from the cell’s other components such as proteins, RNA, DNA and carbohydrates can get in the way (left). An ORNL team made these other components practically invisible to neutrons by combining specific levels of heavy hydrogen (deuterium) with normal hydrogen within the cell.

Credit

Xiaolin Cheng and Mike Matheson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Dept. of Energy

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