φXANES: In vivo imaging of metal-protein coordination environments.

ABSTRACT

We have developed an X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy method using fluorescence detection for visualizing in vivo coordination environments of metals in biological specimens. This approach, which we term fluorescence imaging XANES (φXANES), allows us to spatially depict metal-protein associations in a native, hydrated state whilst avoiding intrinsic chemical damage from radiation. This method was validated using iron-challenged Caenorhabditis elegans to observe marked alterations in redox environment.