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History of X-ray Crystallography

How X-ray crystallography enabled atomic-resolution peptide and protein structure determination.

By Encyclopeptide Editorial | 1 min read
crystallography x-ray structure history

Overview

X-ray crystallography has provided the majority of atomic-resolution structures for peptides and proteins since the early 20th century.

Key Milestones

  • 1895: Wilhelm Rontgen discovers X-rays
  • 1912: Max von Laue demonstrates X-ray diffraction
  • 1953: Watson and Crick determine DNA structure
  • 1958: Kendrew determines myoglobin structure
  • 1960: Perutz determines hemoglobin structure
  • 1962: Nobel Prize to Kendrew and Perutz
  • 2000s: Synchrotron radiation advances

Impact

X-ray crystallography remains the gold standard for high-resolution peptide and protein structures, essential for drug design and mechanistic studies.

References

  • Source: ENCP Peptide Database
  • Category: Peptide History

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