More information from your circular dichroism

The authors discuss how circularly polarized synchotron radiation could be used to learn more about molecules. The extra information provided by extending circular dichroism spectra into the vacuum region provides extra sensitivity for investigating the secondary structure of all types of biological molecules. This extra information is mandatory if circular dichroism spectra of proteins are to be used to determine their component secondary structures. The noise on a circular dichroism spectrum depends on the amount of light collected during the measurement and coventional sources for the vacuum UV are weak enough that noise levels are high and the instruments are always working at their limits of reliability. Synchtron radiation provides the high light intensity for this wavelength region that is necessary for the rapid scanning of accurate noise-free circular dichroism spectra. Shown are circular dichroism spectra for polysaccharides, nucleic acids, and proteins