We are grateful for financial contributions to the beamline development by CEMHTI (Orleans, France, ANR-13-BS08-0012-01) and Labex OSUG@2020 (Grenoble, France, ANR-10-LABX-0056). The FAME-UHD project is financially supported by the French &#34;grand emprunt&#34; EquipEx (EcoX, ANR-10-EQPX-27-01), the CEA-CNRS CRG consortium and the INSU CNRS institute. We are grateful of all the contributions during the experiments especially all the persons working on BM30B and BM16. The authors acknowledge the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility for provision of synchrotron radiation beamtime. We also acknowledge PHYTOMET ANR project for financial support (ANR-16-CE01-0008) and SEDMAC project for financial support (INCA-Plan cancer-ASC16019CS).

1. Preparation of the human PC-3 and OVCAR-3 cancer cell pellets for selenium speciation
NOTE: The following protocol is adapted from Weekley et al.10. All steps have to be carried out under a cell culture hood under biosafety level 2 conditions and restrictions, using aseptic techniques.
<ol>
	<li>Count the cells using a Malassez cell counting chamber. Seed 150,000&#8211;200,000 cells per flask for the PC-3 cell line and 300,000 cells for the OVCAR-3 cell line.</li>
...

<ol>
	<li>Llorens, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+energy+resolution+five-crystal+spectrometer+for+high+quality+fluorescence+and+absorption+measurements+on+an+x-ray+absorption+spectroscopy+beamline.">High energy resolution five-crystal spectrometer for high quality fluorescence and absorption measurements on an x-ray absorption spectroscopy beamline.</a> Review of Scientific Instruments. 83 (6), 063104 (2012).</li><li>Proux, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+Energy+Resolution+Fluorescence+Detected+X-ray+Absorption+Spectroscopy:+a+new+powerful+structural+tool+in+environmental+biogeochemistry+sciences.">High Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detected X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy: a new powerful structural tool in environmental biogeochemistry sciences.</a> Journal of Environmental Quality. 46 (6), 1146-1157 (2017).</li><li>Bissardon, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sub-ppm+high+energy+resolution+fluorescence+detected+X-ray+absorption+spectroscopy+of+selenium+in+articular+cartilage.">Sub-ppm high energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy of selenium in articular cartilage.</a> Analyst. 144 (11), 3488-3493 (2019).</li><li>Proux, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=FAME:+a+new+beamline+for+X-ray+absorption+investigations+of+very-diluted+systems+of+environmental,+material+and+biological+interests.">FAME: a new beamline for X-ray absorption investigations of very-diluted systems of environmental, material and biological interests.</a> Physica Scripta. 115, 970-973 (2005).</li><li>George, G. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=X-ray-induced+photo-chemistry+and+X-ray+absorption+spectroscopy+of+biological+samples.">X-ray-induced photo-chemistry and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples.</a> Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. 19 (6), 875-886 (2012).</li><li>Sarret, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+Synchrotron-Based+techniques+to+Elucidate+Metal+Uptake+and+Metabolism+in+Plants.">Use of Synchrotron-Based techniques to Elucidate Metal Uptake and Metabolism in Plants.</a> Advanced in Agronomy. 119, 1-82 (2013).</li><li>Porcaro, F., Roudeau, S., Carmona, A., Ortega, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+element+speciation+analysis+of+biomedical+samples+using+synchrotron-based+techniques.">Advances in element speciation analysis of biomedical samples using synchrotron-based techniques.</a> Trends Analytical Chemistry. 104, 22-41 (2018).</li><li>Role of selenium nanoparticles to dampen the metastatic potential of aggressive cancer cells. 9th bioMedical Applications of Synchrotron Radiation, Beijing, China Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://indico.ihep.ac.cn/event/7794/contribution/7">https://indico.ihep.ac.cn/event/7794/contribution/7</a> (2018)</li><li>Weekley, C. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Speciation+of+Seleno-amino+Acids+by+Human+Cancer+Cells:+X-ray+Absorption+and+Fluorescence+Methods.">Speciation of Seleno-amino Acids by Human Cancer Cells: X-ray Absorption and Fluorescence Methods.</a> Biochemistry. 50 (10), 1641-1650 (2011).</li><li>Sutak, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+comparative+study+of+iron+uptake+mechanisms+in+marine+microalgae:+Iron+binding+at+the+cell+surface+is+a+critical+step.">A comparative study of iron uptake mechanisms in marine microalgae: Iron binding at the cell surface is a critical step.</a> Plant Physiology. 160, 2271-2284 (2012).</li><li>Asakura, K., Abe, H., Kimura, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+challenge+of+constructing+an+international+XAFS+database.">The challenge of constructing an international XAFS database.</a> Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. 25 (4), 967-971 (2018).</li><li>SSHADE: "Solid Spectroscopy Hosting Architecture of Databases and Expertise" and its databases. OSUG Data Center. Service/Database Infrastructure Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sshade.eu/">https://www.sshade.eu/</a> (2018)</li><li>Bissardon, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sub-ppm+high+energy+resolution+fluorescence+detected+X-ray+absorption+spectroscopy+of+selenium+in+articular+cartilage.">Sub-ppm high energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy of selenium in articular cartilage.</a> Analyst. 144 (11), 3488-3493 (2019).</li><li>Ravel, B., Newville, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ATHENA,+ARTEMIS,+HEPHAESTUS:+data+analysis+for+X-ray+absorption+spectroscopy+using+IFEFFIT.">ATHENA, ARTEMIS, HEPHAESTUS: data analysis for X-ray absorption spectroscopy using IFEFFIT.</a> Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. 12 (4), 537-541 (2005).</li><li>Webb, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SIXpack:+a+graphical+user+interface+for+XAS+analysis+using+IFEFFIT.">SIXpack: a graphical user interface for XAS analysis using IFEFFIT.</a> Physica Scripta. 115, 1011 (2005).</li><li>Klementiev, K. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=VIPER+for+Windows.">VIPER for Windows.</a> Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics. 34 (2), 209-217 (2001).</li><li>Newville, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fundamental+of+XAFS.">Fundamental of XAFS.</a> Reviews in Mineralogy &amp; Geochemistry. 78, 33-74 (2014).</li><li>Henderson, G. S., de Groot, F. M. F., Moulton, B. J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=X-ray+Absorption+Near-Edge+Structure+(XANES)+Spectroscopy.">X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) Spectroscopy.</a> Reviews in Mineralogy &amp; Geochemistry. 78, 75-138 (2014).</li><li>Ortega, R., Carmona, A., Llorens, I., Solari, P. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=X-ray+absorption+spectroscopy+of+biological+samples.+A+tutorial.">X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples. A tutorial.</a> Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. 27, 2054-2065 (2012).</li><li>Se K edge XAS HERFD of selenium with various oxidation states at 10K. SSHADE/FAME Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://doi.org/10.26302/SSHADE/EXPERIMENT_CB_20190408_001">https://doi.org/10.26302/SSHADE/EXPERIMENT_CB_20190408_001</a> (2019)</li><li>George, G. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=X-ray-induced+photo-chemistry+and+X-ray+absorption+spectroscopy+of+biological+samples.">X-ray-induced photo-chemistry and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples.</a> Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. 19, 875-886 (2012).</li></ol>

This protocol was used to study the chemical form of selenium and iron in biological samples by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. It focuses on the cryo-preparation and storage of biological samples and references compounds, as well as on the HERFD-XAS measurements.
Cryo-preparation and storage 
The cryo-preparation of the bulk biological sample pellets allows preservation of the chemical integrity of the species present in the samples. This is crucial, because speciation ch...

The study of the cellular biotransformations of essential or toxic elements requires speciation techniques with high sensitivity and should minimize sample preparation steps that are often prone to modification of chemical species.
Physiological elements such as selenium and iron are known to be particularly difficult to speciate due to their complex chemistry, various stabilities of the selenium or iron species, and their low concentration in the ppm (mg/kg) or even sub-ppm range. Thus, the study of the speciation of these elements by XAS can be extremely challenging. Synchrotron XAS and especially high energy resolution fluorescence detected XAS (HERFD-XAS), which allows a very low signal-to-background ratio1, are available at synchrotron sources to speciate highly diluted elements in complex biological matrices2,3. Conventional fluorescence-XAS measurements can be performed using an energy resolved solid state detector (SSD) with an energy bandwidth ~150&#8211;250 eV, on the CRG-FAME beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)4, while HERFD-XAS measurements need a crystal analyzer spectrometer (CAS), with an energy bandwidth ~1&#8211;3 eV, on the CRG-FAME-UHD beamline at the ESRF2. Fluorescence photons are discriminated with respect to their energy with electronic or optical processes respectively.
The sample cryo-preparation is essential to preserve structures and maintain compositional chemical integrity, thus allowing analysis close to the biological native state5. Moreover, analyses performed at cryogenic temperatures as low as 10 K using liquid helium cryogenic cooling (LN2), allow radiation damage to slow down and preserve elemental speciation for XAS. Although some reviews on XAS techniques applied to biological samples report the necessity to prepare and analyze samples in cryogenic conditions (e.g., Sarret et al.6, Porcaro et al.7), none of them clearly describes the related detailed protocol. In this publication, a method for cryo-preparation of cancer cells and plankton microorganisms is described for HERFD-XAS speciation of Se8 and Fe9 at cryogenic temperature.
Good practice for sample preparation and environment during state-of-the-art XAS spectroscopy measurements require 1) a setup; 2) an analysis procedure that limits the effects of radiation damage as much as possible; and 3) a sample (or model compound reference) as homogeneous as possible with respect to the X-ray photons beam size. The first item is taken into account by performing the acquisition at a low temperature, using a liquid helium cryostat. The second item is dealt with by performing each acquisition on a fresh area of the sample by moving it with respect to the beam. Finally, considering the third condition, samples (pellets) and references (powders) are conditioned in pressed bulk pellets in order to limit porosities and inhomogeneities as much as possible, and to avoid roughness with respect to the beam size on the X-ray probed sample surface. We explain how the protocol deals with all of these points.
We used human prostate cell line PC-3 (high metastatic potential) and ovarian cell line OVCAR-3 (which accounts for up to 70% of all ovarian cancer cases) to investigate the antiproliferative properties towards cancer cells of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), and Phaeodactylum tricornutum diatom as a model species to investigate iron sequestration in phytoplankton.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:2175px;" width="2174">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:352px;">Ammonium nitrate</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:389px;">A3795</td>
			<td style="width:1225px;">NH4NO3, 2.66 mg/L of milliQ water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Anaerobic chamber</td>
			<td>Coy Laboratory, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>equipped with Anaerobic Monitor (CAM-12)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Antibiotic stock</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A0166 for ampicillin, S9137 for streptomycin sulfate</td>
			<td>1 mL/L of milliQ water (ampicillin sodium and streptomycin sulfate, 100 mg/mL)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Boron nitride powder</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td align="right">255475</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cell counting chamber</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Neubauer or Malassez</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cell scraper</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dulbecco&#39;s Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS)</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>14190-094</td>
			<td>Without Calcium, Magnesium, Phenol Red</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Eppendorf tubes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.5 mL and 1.5 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Falcon tubes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>15 mL and 50 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ferric citrate Fe/citrate = 1/20</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>F3388</td>
			<td>aqueous solution of FeCl3 50 mM and Na-citrate 1M pH 6.5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>A31604-02</td>
			<td>Performance Plus, certified One Shot format, US origin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Flasks</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z707503</td>
			<td>TPP 150 cm2 area</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Growth chamber</td>
			<td>Sanyo</td>
			<td>Sanyo MLR-352</td>
			<td>at 20 &#176;C and under a 12:12 light (3,000 lux) dark regime</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">HEPES buffer</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>H4034</td>
			<td>1 g/L of milliQ water HEPES</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">High grade serous, OVCAR-3</td>
			<td>ATCC, Rockville, MD</td>
			<td>HTB-161</td>
			<td>Storage temperature: liquid nitrogen vapor temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Incubator</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Incubator at 37&#176;C, humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Insulin solution from bovine pancreas</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>I0516</td>
			<td>10 mg/mL insulin in 25mM HEPES, pH 8.2, BioReagent, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Manual hydraulic press</td>
			<td>Specac, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum</td>
			<td>Roscoff culture collection</td>
			<td>RCC69</td>
			<td>http://roscoff-culture-collection.org/rcc-strain-details/69</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Morpholinepropanesulfonic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M3183</td>
			<td>MOPS, 250 mg/L of milliQ water (pH 7.3)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Optical microscope</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PC-3</td>
			<td>ECCAC, Salisbury, UK</td>
			<td align="right">90112714</td>
			<td>Storage temperature: liquid nitrogen vapor temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P4333</td>
			<td>Solution stabilized, with 10,000 units penicillin and 10 mg streptomycin/mL, sterile-filtered, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Pipette-boy</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>25mL-, 10mL-, and 5mL sterile plastic-pipettes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Plankton culture products, Mf medium: Sea salts</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S9883</td>
			<td>40g/L of milliQ water. Composition: Cl- 19.29 g, Na+ 10.78 g, SO42- 2.66 g, Mg2+ 1.32 g, K+ 420 mg, Ca2+ 400 mg, CO32- /HCO3- 200 mg, Sr2+ 8.8 mg, BO2- 5.6 mg, Br- 56 mg, I- 0.24 mg, Li+ 0.3 mg, F- 1 mg</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Plastic tweezers</td>
			<td>Oxford Instrument</td>
			<td>AGT 5230</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">RPMI MEDIUM 1640 (ATCC Modification)</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>A10491-01</td>
			<td>Solution with 4.5 g/L D-glucose, 1.5 g/L Sodium Bicarbonate, 110 mg/L (1 mM) Sodium Pyruvate, 2.388 g/L (10 mM) HEPES buffer and 300 mg/L L-glutamine for research use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), BSA coated, 2 mg/mL</td>
			<td>NANOCS Company, USA</td>
			<td>Se50-BS-1</td>
			<td>BSA stabilized Se-NPs solution. Average size about 30 nm. Stored at 4&#176;C in the dark, protected from the light.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), Chitosan coated, 2 mg/mL</td>
			<td>NANOCS Company, USA</td>
			<td>11. Se50-CS-1</td>
			<td>Chitosan stabilized Se-NPs solution. Average size about 30 nm. Stored at 4&#176;C in the dark, protected from the light.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium metasilicate pentahydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td align="right">71746</td>
			<td>Na2SiO3.5H2O, 22.8 mg/L of milliQ water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium nitrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S5022</td>
			<td>NaNO3, 75 mg/L of milliQ water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium phosphate monobasic</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S5011</td>
			<td>NaH2PO4, 15 mg/L of milliQ water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">T-75 flasks</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tissue culture hood</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trace metal stock</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M5005, Z1001, M1651, C2911, 450243, 451193, 229857</td>
			<td>1 mL/L of milliQ water (MnCl2.4H2O 200 mg/L, ZnSO4.7H2O 40 mg/L, Na2MoO4.2H2O 20mg/L, CoCl2.6H2O 14 mg/L, Na3VO4.nH2O 10 mg/L, NiCl2 10 mg/L, H2SeO3 10 mg/L)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypan Blue Solution (0.4%)</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td align="right">15250061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypsin-EDTA (0.05%), phenol red</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>25300-054</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Vitamin stock</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T1270 for thiamine, B4639 for biotin, V6629 for B12</td>
			<td>1 mL/L of milliQ water (thiamine HCl 20 mg/L, biotin 1 mg/L, B12 1 mg/L)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Water bath 37&#176;C</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

biological samples preparation for speciation at cryogenic temperature using high-resolution  x-ray absorption spectroscopy

The study of elements with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is of particular interest when studying the role of metals in biological systems. Sample preparation is a key and often complex procedure, particularly for biological samples. Although X-ray speciation techniques are widely used, no detailed protocol has been yet disseminated for users of the technique. Further, chemical state modification is of concern, and cryo-based techniques are recommended to analyze the biological samples in their near-native hydrated state to provide the maximum preservation of chemical integrity of the cells or tissues. Here, we propose a cellular preparation protocol based on cryo-preserved samples. It is demonstrated in a high energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of selenium in cancer cells and a study of iron in phytoplankton. This protocol can be used with other biological samples and other X-ray techniques that can be damaged by irradiation.

The main aims of these preparations were to investigate the interaction between selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) and cancer cells, and iron binding and sequestration in phytoplankton.
HERFD-XANES spectra of the selenium in the initial state (BSA Se-NPs) and in cells incubated in nutritive medium (BSA Se-NPs after 24 h incubation) are shown in Figure 10. Results showed that selenium in the initial Se-NPs was present as both Se(0) and selenite-like forms, ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Biological Samples Preparation for Speciation at Cryogenic Temperature using High-Resolution  X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy at JoVE.com

Biological Samples Preparation for Speciation at Cryogenic Temperature using High-Resolution  X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

This protocol presents a detailed procedure to prepare biological cryosamples for synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments. We describe all the steps required to optimize sample preparation and cryopreservation with examples of the protocol with cancer and phytoplankton cells. This method provides a universal standard of sample cryo-preparation.

The study of elements with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is of particular interest when studying the role of metals in biological systems. Sample ...

This protocol has been standardized for cellular specimens, allowing the comparison of experiments running at different synchrotron locations. The main advantage of this technique is a simple and straightforward workflow that allows a fast and reliable preservation of the chemical integration of the sample. Individuals new to this technique may struggle with the frozen iterated cells pelleting and the fast loading of the cellular pellet into the cryosample order.A precise and quick unlink of a samples in cryogenic temperature is critical. As such, a visual demonstration is a essential to understand how to perform the technique. To prepare human prostate and ovarian cancer cell line cell pellets for selenium speciation, seed the appropriate number of cells from each cell line into three T-75 flasks per condition in the appropriate cell culture medium in a laminar flow hood and place the flasks into 37 degree Celsius and 5%carbon dioxide cell culture incubator until the cells are 80%confluent.To expose the cancer cells to selenium treatment, first sonicate freshly prepared nanoparticle stock solutions in an ultrasound water bath for 30 minutes at room temperature before serially diluting the selenium nanoparticle solution in complete cell culture medium to the appropriate working concentrations. In the laminar flow hood, gently wash the cells two times with five milliliters of 37 degrees Celsius PBS per wash and use a sterile 25 milliliter pipette to carefully add 15 milliliters of the selenium treatment of interest to the bottom of the flask. Close the lids without completely sealing the flask and place the flasks horizontally in the cell culture incubator for 24 hours.To prepare the cell pellets after washing and replenishing the culture medium, use one cell scraper per flask to gently detach the cells. Use medium to flush any cells stuck to the flask into the supernatant and collect the dissociated cells by centrifugation. Wash the pellets two times in five milliliters of PBS per tube per wash to remove all remaining traces of the treatment and resuspend the cells in one milliliter of PBS.Transfer the cells into a 1.5 milliliter polypropylene tube and collect the cells with another centrifugation. Then use a 200 microliter pipette to gently remove all of the supernatant and plunge the bottom part of each 1.5 milliliter tube into liquid nitrogen to the level of the cell pellet. Immediately after freezing, transfer the tubes into a liquid nitrogen dewar for long-term storage.For high resolution x-ray absorption spectroscopy, optimize all of the crystals from the crystal analyzer spectrometer in Bragg conditions with respect to the fluorescence line energy of interest and use a reference for which the energy position of the absorption edge is known to calibrate the incident monochromatic beam energy. Transfer the sample holder to a liquid helium cryostat for biological samples and set the cryostat to 10 degrees Kelvin, then close the experimental hutch following the synchrotron safety rules, and begin the analysis. Here, representative high resolution x-ray absorption spectroscopy spectra of the selenium in the initial state and in cells incubated to nutritive medium demonstrate that the selenium in the initial selenium nanoparticles was present as both selenium zero and cellulite-like forms.After interactions with the PC3 cells, however, the selenium was mainly present in the cells as selenium zero, demonstrating a change of selenium species within the cells. For iron, high-resolution x-ray absorption spectroscopy reference spectra exhibit distinct edge positions depending on the iron oxidation state, with reduced species of iron shifted to low energy values. Two successive spectra collected on the same position of a diatom pellet were similar, indicating that the beam damage was limited between two acquisitions when using a helium cryostat at 10 Kelvin.Furthermore, spectra from different positions of the diatom pellet were identical, demonstrating that the sample pellet was homogenous and that the spectra could be averaged to obtain a better signal-to-noise ratio spectrum. The most critical steps are the preparation of the nanoparticle diltuion, pelleting at cryogenic temperature, and the preparation of the standard reference samples. This procedure can be applied to other bulk analytical techniques, such as ICP-MS or HPLC-ICP-MS or other non-synchrotron spectroscopic techniques able to be performed form at cryogenic temperature.Other scientific questions can be explored using this procedure, particularly in the fields of biogeology, of biochemistry, and environmental sciences or toxicology research. Selenium compounds and selenium nanoparticles can be as arduous to your health and should be manipulated in a dedicated chemical hood using gloves, glasses, and a face mask.

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Research

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Chemistry

Untargeted Metabolomics from Biological Sources Using Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS)

Here we present a workflow to analyze the metabolic profiles for biological samples of interest including; cells, serum, or tissue. The sample is first separated into polar and non-polar fractions by a liquid-liquid phase extraction, and partially purified to facilitate downstream analysis. Both aqueous (polar metabolites) and organic (non-polar metabolites) phases of the initial extraction are processed to survey a broad range of metabolites. Metabolites are separated by different liquid chromatography methods based upon their partition properties. In this method, we present microflow ultra-performance (UP)LC methods, but the protocol is scalable to higher flows and lower pressures. Introduction into the mass spectrometer can be through either general or compound optimized source conditions. Detection of a broad range of ions is carried out in full scan mode in both positive and negative mode over a broad m/z range using high resolution on a recently calibrated instrument. Label-free differential analysis is carried out on bioinformatics platforms. Applications of this approach include metabolic pathway screening, biomarker discovery, and drug development.

Untargeted Metabolomics from Biological Sources Using Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry UPLC-HRMS

Untargeted metabolomics provides a hypothesis generating snapshot of a metabolic profile. This protocol will demonstrate the extraction and analysis of metabolites from cells, serum, or tissue. A range of metabolites are surveyed using liquid-liquid phase extraction, microflow ultraperformance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) coupled to differential analysis software.

Here we present a workflow to analyze the metabolic profiles for biological samples of interest including; cells, serum, or tissue. The sample is first ...

Preparing Adherent Cells for X-ray Fluorescence Imaging by Chemical Fixation

X-ray fluorescence imaging allows us to non-destructively measure the spatial distribution and concentration of multiple elements simultaneously over large or small sample areas. It has been applied in many areas of science, including materials science, geoscience, studying works of cultural heritage, and in chemical biology. In the case of chemical biology, for example, visualizing the metal distributions within cells allows us to study both naturally-occurring metal ions in the cells, as well as exogenously-introduced metals such as drugs and nanoparticles. Due to the fully hydrated nature of nearly all biological samples, cryo-fixation followed by imaging under cryogenic temperature represents the ideal imaging modality currently available. However, under the circumstances that such a combination is not easily accessible or practical, aldehyde based chemical fixation remains useful and sometimes inevitable. This article describes in as much detail as possible in the preparation of adherent mammalian cells by chemical fixation for X-ray fluorescent imaging.

Here, we present a protocol on how to determine the quantity and distribution of metals in a sample using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence. We focus on adherent cells, and describe the chemical fixation method to prepare this sample. We then describe how to mount and image the sample using synchrotron X-rays.

X-ray fluorescence imaging allows us to non-destructively measure the spatial distribution and concentration of multiple elements simultaneously over ...

Preparation of Carbon Nanosheets at Room Temperature

Amphiphilic molecules equipped with a reactive, carbon-rich "oligoyne" segment consisting of conjugated carbon-carbon triple bonds self-assemble into defined aggregates in aqueous media and at the air-water interface. In the aggregated state, the oligoynes can then be carbonized under mild conditions while preserving the morphology and the embedded chemical functionalization. This novel approach provides direct access to functionalized carbon nanomaterials. In this article, we present a synthetic approach that allows us to prepare hexayne carboxylate amphiphiles as carbon-rich siblings of typical fatty acid esters through a series of repeated bromination and Negishi-type cross-coupling reactions. The obtained compounds are designed to self-assemble into monolayers at the air-water interface, and we show how this can be achieved in a Langmuir trough. Thus, compression of the molecules at the air-water interface triggers the film formation and leads to a densely packed layer of the molecules. The complete carbonization of the films at the air-water interface is then accomplished by cross-linking of the hexayne layer at room temperature, using UV irradiation as a mild external stimulus. The changes in the layer during this process can be monitored with the help of infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy and Brewster angle microscopy. Moreover, a transfer of the carbonized films onto solid substrates by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique has enabled us to prove that they were carbon nanosheets with lateral dimensions on the order of centimeters.

We present the synthesis of an amphiphilic hexayne and its use in the preparation of carbon nanosheets at the air-water interface from a self-assembled monolayer of these reactive, carbon-rich molecular precursors.

Amphiphilic molecules equipped with a reactive, carbon-rich "oligoyne" segment consisting of conjugated carbon-carbon triple bonds self-assemble into ...

Rapid High-throughput Species Identification of Botanical Material Using Direct Analysis in Real Time High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

We demonstrate that direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry can be used to produce mass spectral profiles of botanical material, and that these chemical fingerprints can be used for plant species identification. The mass spectral data can be acquired rapidly and in a high throughput manner without the need for sample extraction, derivatization or pH adjustment steps. The use of this technique bypasses challenges presented by more conventional techniques including lengthy chromatography analysis times and resource intensive methods. The high throughput capabilities of the direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry protocol, coupled with multivariate statistical analysis processing of the data, provide not only class characterization of plants, but also yield species and varietal information. Here, the technique is demonstrated with two psychoactive plant products, Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) and Datura (Jimsonweed), which were subjected to direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry followed by statistical analysis processing of the mass spectral data. The application of these tools in tandem enabled the plant materials to be rapidly identified at the level of variety and species.

A method for species identification of botanical material by direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis is presented.

We demonstrate that direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry can be used to produce mass spectral profiles of botanical material, ...

Quantifying X-Ray Fluorescence Data Using MAPS

The quantification of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy maps by fitting the raw spectra to a known standard is crucial for evaluating chemical composition and elemental distribution within a material. Synchrotron-based XRF has become an integral characterization technique for a variety of research topics, particularly due to its non-destructive nature and its high sensitivity. Today, synchrotrons can acquire fluorescence data at spatial resolutions well below a micron, allowing for the evaluation of compositional variations at the nanoscale. Through proper quantification, it is then possible to obtain an in-depth, high-resolution understanding of elemental segregation, stoichiometric relationships, and clustering behavior.
This article explains how to use the MAPS fitting software developed by Argonne National Laboratory for the quantification of full 2-D XRF maps. We use as an example results from a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell, taken at the Advanced Photon Source beamline 2-ID-D at Argonne National Laboratory. We show the standard procedure for fitting raw data, demonstrate how to evaluate the quality of a fit and present the typical outputs generated by the program. In addition, we discuss in this manuscript certain software limitations and offer suggestions for how to further correct the data to be numerically accurate and representative of spatially resolved, elemental concentrations.

Here, we demonstrate the use of the X-ray fluorescence fitting software, MAPS, created by Argonne National Laboratory for the quantification of fluorescence microscopy data. The quantified data that results is useful for understanding the elemental distribution and stoichiometric ratios within a sample of interest.

The quantification of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy maps by fitting the raw spectra to a known standard is crucial for evaluating chemical ...

Total Internal Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (TIRAS) for the Detection of Solvated Electrons at a Plasma-liquid Interface

The total internal reflection absorption spectroscopy (TIRAS) method presented in this article uses an inexpensive diode laser to detect solvated electrons produced by a low-temperature plasma in contact with an aqueous solution. Solvated electrons are powerful reducing agents, and it has been postulated that they play an important role in the interfacial chemistry between a gaseous plasma or discharge and a conductive liquid. However, due to the high local concentrations of reactive species at the interface, they have a short average lifetime (~1 &#181;s), which makes them extremely difficult to detect. The TIRAS technique uses a unique total internal reflection geometry combined with amplitude-modulated lock-in amplification to distinguish solvated electrons&#39; absorbance signal from other spurious noise sources. This enables the in situ detection of short-lived intermediates in the interfacial region, as opposed to the bulk measurement of stable products in the solution. This approach is especially attractive for the field of plasma electrochemistry, where much of the important chemistry is driven by short-lived free radicals. This experimental method has been used to analyze the reduction of nitrite (NO2-(aq)), nitrate (NO3-(aq)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2(aq)), and dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2(aq)) by plasma-solvated electrons and deduce effective rate constants. Limitations of the method may arise in the presence of unintended parallel reactions, such as air contamination in the plasma, and absorbance measurements may also be hindered by the precipitation of reduced electrochemical products. Overall, the TIRAS method can be a powerful tool for studying the plasma-liquid interface, but its effectiveness depends on the particular system and reaction chemistry under study.

Total Internal Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy TIRAS for the Detection of Solvated Electrons at a Plasma-liquid Interface

This article presents a total internal reflection absorption spectroscopy (TIRAS) method for measuring short-lived free radicals at a plasma-liquid interface. In particular, TIRAS is used to identify solvated electrons based on their optical absorbance of red light near 700 nm.

The total internal reflection absorption spectroscopy (TIRAS) method presented in this article uses an inexpensive diode laser to detect solvated ...

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography

This protocol describes fabricating microfluidic devices with low X-ray background optimized for goniometer based fixed target serial crystallography. The devices are patterned from epoxy glue using soft lithography and are suitable for in situ X-ray diffraction experiments at room temperature. The sample wells are lidded on both sides with polymeric polyimide foil windows that allow diffraction data collection with low X-ray background. This fabrication method is undemanding and inexpensive. After the sourcing of a SU-8 master wafer, all fabrication can be completed outside of a cleanroom in a typical research lab environment. The chip design and fabrication protocol utilize capillary valving to microfluidically split an aqueous reaction into defined nanoliter sized droplets. This loading mechanism avoids the sample loss from channel dead-volume and can easily be performed manually without using pumps or other equipment for fluid actuation. We describe how isolated nanoliter sized drops of protein solution can be monitored in situ by dynamic light scattering to control protein crystal nucleation and growth. After suitable crystals are grown, complete X-ray diffraction datasets can be collected using goniometer based in situ fixed target serial X-ray crystallography at room temperature. The protocol provides custom scripts to process diffraction datasets using a suite of software tools to solve and refine the protein crystal structure. This approach avoids the artefacts possibly induced during cryo-preservation or manual crystal handling in conventional crystallography experiments. We present and compare three protein structures that were solved using small crystals with dimensions of approximately 10-20 &#181;m grown in chip. By crystallizing and diffracting in situ, handling and hence mechanical disturbances of fragile crystals is minimized. The protocol details how to fabricate a custom X-ray transparent microfluidic chip suitable for in situ serial crystallography. As almost every crystal can be used for diffraction data collection, these microfluidic chips are a very efficient crystal delivery method.

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography

This protocol describes in detail how to fabricate and operate microfluidic devices for X-ray diffraction data collection at room temperature. Additionally, it describes how to monitor protein crystallization by dynamic light scattering and how to process and analyze obtained diffraction data.

This protocol describes fabricating microfluidic devices with low X-ray background optimized for goniometer based fixed target serial crystallography. The ...

Essential Metal Uptake in Gram-negative Bacteria: X-ray Fluorescence, Radioisotopes, and Cell Fractionation

We demonstrate a scalable method for the separation of the bacterial periplasm from the cytoplasm. This method is used to purify periplasmic protein for the purpose of biophysical characterization, and measure substrate transfer between periplasmic and cytoplasmic compartments. By carefully limiting the time that the periplasm is separated from the cytoplasm, the experimenter can extract the protein of interest and assay each compartment individually for substrate without carry-over contamination between compartments. The extracted protein from fractionation can then be further analyzed for three-dimensional structure determination or substrate-binding profiles. Alternatively, this method can be performed after incubation with a radiotracer to determine total percent uptake, as well as distribution of the tracer (and hence metal transport) across different bacterial compartments. Experimentation with a radiotracer can help differentiate between a physiological substrate and artefactual substrate, such as those caused by mismetallation.
X-ray fluorescence can be used to discover the presence or absence of metal incorporation in a sample, as well as measure changes that may occur in metal incorporation as a product of growth conditions, purification conditions, and/or crystallization conditions. X-ray fluorescence also provides a relative measure of abundance for each metal, which can be used to determine the best metal energy absorption peak to use for anomalous X-ray scattering data collection. Radiometal uptake can be used as a method to validate the physiological nature of a substrate detected by X-ray fluorescence, as well as support the discovery of novel substrates.

A protocol for the extraction of a periplasmic transition metal chaperone in the context of its native binding partners, and biophysical characterization of its substrate contents by X-ray fluorescence and radiometal uptake is presented.

We demonstrate a scalable method for the separation of the bacterial periplasm from the cytoplasm. This method is used to purify periplasmic protein for ...

Elemental-sensitive Detection of the Chemistry in Batteries through Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering

Energy storage has become more and more a limiting factor of today's sustainable energy applications, including electric vehicles and green electric grid based on volatile solar and wind sources. The pressing demand of developing high-performance electrochemical energy storage solutions, i.e., batteries, relies on both fundamental understanding and practical developments from both the academy and industry. The formidable challenge of developing successful battery technology stems from the different requirements for different energy-storage applications. Energy density, power, stability, safety, and cost parameters all have to be balanced in batteries to meet the requirements of different applications. Therefore, multiple battery technologies based on different materials and mechanisms need to be developed and optimized. Incisive tools that could directly probe the chemical reactions in various battery materials are becoming critical to advance the field beyond its conventional trial-and-error approach. Here, we present detailed protocols for soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS), soft X-ray emission spectroscopy (sXES), and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) experiments, which are inherently elemental-sensitive probes of the transition-metal 3d and anion 2p states in battery compounds. We provide the details on the experimental techniques and demonstrations revealing the key chemical states in battery materials through these soft X-ray spectroscopy techniques.

Here, we present a protocol for typical experiments of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) with applications in battery material studies.

Energy storage has become more and more a limiting factor of today's sustainable energy applications, including electric vehicles and green electric grid ...

Improving High Viscosity Extrusion of Microcrystals for Time-resolved Serial Femtosecond Crystallography at X-ray Lasers

High-viscosity micro-extrusion injectors have dramatically reduced sample consumption in serial femtosecond crystallographic experiments (SFX) at X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs). A series of experiments using the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin have further established these injectors as a preferred option to deliver crystals for time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography (TR-SFX) to resolve structural changes of proteins after photoactivation. To obtain multiple structural snapshots of high quality, it is essential to collect large amounts of data and ensure clearance of crystals between every pump laser pulse. Here, we describe in detail how we optimized the extrusion of bacteriorhodopsin microcrystals for our recent TR-SFX experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The goal of the method is to optimize extrusion for a stable and continuous flow while maintaining a high density of crystals to increase the rate at which data can be collected in a TR-SFX experiment. We achieve this goal by preparing lipidic cubic phase with a homogenous distribution of crystals using a novel three-way syringe coupling device followed by adjusting the sample composition based on measurements of the extrusion stability taken with a high-speed camera setup. The methodology can be adapted to optimize the flow of other microcrystals. The setup will be available for users of the new Swiss Free Electron Laser facility.

The success of a time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography experiment is dependent on efficient sample delivery. Here, we describe protocols to optimize the extrusion of bacteriorhodopsin microcrystals from a high viscosity micro-extrusion injector. The methodology relies on sample homogenization with a novel three-way coupler and visualization with a high-speed camera.

High-viscosity micro-extrusion injectors have dramatically reduced sample consumption in serial femtosecond crystallographic experiments (SFX) at X-ray ...