Flow Cells

Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a cartoon of an RNA folding experiment. Folding is initiated within the microfabricated flow cell by the rapid addition of small Mg2+ ions. The RNA folds as it flows down the channel; the x-ray beam can be moved to probe the conformation at any position in the flow cell. Schematic conformations (see Russell et al., PNAS 99 (2002)) of the RNA are shown at different locations along the channel. Molecule a. is unfolded, molecules b. and c. are captured during folding.