October 9, 2026 Researchers make ‘molecular movies’ with powerful X-rays to help advance therapeutics
Researchers are using X-ray free-electron lasers to create 'molecular movies' of enzymes, providing new insights into biological processes. This research could lead to the development of new therapeutics for diseases like cancer.
Why it matters
Advancements in imaging technology allow scientists to better understand enzyme function, which is critical for drug discovery and medical innovation.
Newswise — Within biology, one group of enzymes, called 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases, is responsible for catalyzing a very wide range of reactions that play a role in everything from how genetic code is used by cells to synthesizing antibiotics.
Within the past several years, researchers have used ultrashort, powerful light pulses from X-ray free-electron lasers, including the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory , to better understand just how these enzymes catalyze reactions.
In two recent papers, researchers used LCLS to study the AspH enzyme - a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment - and the isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) enzyme, which is essential for creating penicillin. By examining those reactions step-by-step at mere quadrillionths of a second, they found that these enzymes activate reactions in surprising ways - leading to new insights that could inspire novel therapeutics and drug development.
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