SAXS studies of radiation damages induced in protein complexes with Cu(II) and Zn(II) cations

The aim of this research project is to determine the influence of synchrotron radiation on the induction of radiation damage in selected model protein structures in the presence of copper, zinc and other divalent metal ions. Human serum albumin (HSA) and human cystatin C (HCC) were selected as model systems, which were previously examined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in complexes mainly with Cu(II) and Zn(II) cations. The analysis using the bioSAXS technique will determine potential structural changes and correlates them with radiation damages visible in XAS studies.