The artwork featured on the cover of the October 6 issue of Biophysical Journal depicts coherently diffracting domains (CDDs) within protein crystals. The brightly illuminated gray regions represent high-angle annular dark-field images that capture the morphology of the crystal bodies. Superimposed upon them is the structural information revealed by four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy, represented by vivid bands of blue, gold, and magenta.
The colorful CDDs follow distinct trajectories as they meander along the lengths of the crystals, representing spatially distinct regions associated with individual Bragg reflections. Our study reveals nanoscale heterogeneity within macromolecular protein crystals, which is obscured in conventional protein crystal diffraction experiments. The accompanying cover image emphasizes this hidden internal structure through dramatic contrast and agitated brush strokes, conveying the dynamism and complexity inherent to both the multidimensional datasets we analyzed and crystallography itself.
These observations provide new insight into longstanding models of protein crystal architecture and radiation damage. A better understanding of protein crystal imperfections could ultimately help inform strategies for improving protein structure determination, particularly for challenging samples.
The cover was hand drawn digitally by using a combination of watercolor, pencil, and luminance brushes. An unpublished experimental dataset served as a loose visual reference, with the final composition shaped through artistic interpretation.
— Shervin S. Nia, Ambarneil Saha, Jung Cho, Z. Hong Zhou, Peter Ercius, and Matthew Mecklenburg