0000000000217180
AUTHOR
Federico Zontone
Double implantation in silica glass for metal cluster composite formation: a study by synchrotron radiation techniques
Silica glass containing metal clusters is studied for both basic and applied aspects, related to the physics of cluster formation and to the optical properties of these materials. To obtain such composite structure, Cu+ Ni, Au+ Cu, Au+ Ag, Cu+ Co, and Cu+ Ag sequential implantations in fused silica were realized. The resulting systems, after possible annealing in various atmospheres, were studied by synchrotron radiation-based techniques, namely, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), and grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). The unique potential of these techniques is the capability to investigate dilut…
Light-induced structural changes in a monomeric bacteriophytochrome
International audience; Phytochromes sense red light in plants and various microorganism. Light absorption causes structural changes within the protein, which alter its biochemical activity. Bacterial phytochromes are dimeric proteins, but the functional relevance of this arrangement remains unclear. Here, we use time-resolved X-ray scattering to reveal the solution structural change of a monomeric variant of the photosensory core module of the phytochrome from Deinococcus radiodurans. The data reveal two motions, a bend and a twist of the PHY domain with respect to the chromophore-binding domains. Infrared spectroscopy shows the refolding of the PHY tongue. We conclude that a monomer of th…