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Atomic-level snapshots reveal how a key copper enzyme powers nature's chemistry

Phys · · 343 words · By University

Researchers from multiple international universities utilized X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) technology to capture atomic-resolution images of a copper-containing enzyme. This enzyme, identified as copper nitrite reductase (CuNiR), plays a vital role in the global nitrogen cycle by converting nitrite into nitric oxide gas. The study clarified that the enzyme's reaction follows an ordered sequence, providing insights into its catalytic mechanism.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-atomic-snapshots-reveal-key-copper.html

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Propaganda Score
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Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

10 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 4
help Insufficient Evidence 1
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“Researchers from the University of Liverpool, Japan, and Argentina have captured atomic-resolution images of an important copper-containing enzyme using advanced X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) technology at SACLA in Japan.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided for this claim consists only of generic Wikipedia entries (Liverpool, Deaths in 2026, César Pelli) and general ResearchGate search results. None of the evidence sources confirm the specific claim regarding researchers from the University of Liverpool, Japan, and Argentina using XFEL technology at SACLA to image a copper-containing enzyme. The claim appears to be based on information not present in the provided evidence.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following notable deaths occurred in 2026. Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Name, age, country of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2026
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The architect César Pelli has designed many noteworthy buildings in the span of his four-decade career; these include some of the tallest buildings in the world. The following are some of his major co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_César_Pelli
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Liverpool is a port city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, 178 miles (286 km) north-west of London. It had …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“XFEL technology generates ultra-bright, ultra-short X-ray pulses, enabling atomic-scale imaging and real-time observation of chemical, biological, and physical processes.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that XFEL technology generates ultra-bright, ultra-short X-ray pulses, enabling atomic-scale imaging and the study of ultrafast processes. One result explicitly states this capability.
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web search NEUTRAL — XFEL technology generates ultra-bright, ultra-short X-ray pulses, enabling atomic-scale imaging and real-time observation of chemical, biological, and physical processes. The international team—led by…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-atomic-snapshots-reveal-key-co…
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web search NEUTRAL — They produce incredibly bright, ultra-short flashes of X-ray light (down to femtoseconds), enabling the study of ultrafast processes like chemical reactions or the dynamics of fragile nanostructures 1…
https://www.cellbiotek.com/posts/unveiling-the-invisible-how…
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web search NEUTRAL — Traditional methods for generating such ultra-short hard X-ray pulses required dramatically reducing the electron bunch charge to tens of picocoulombs, which limited the pulse energy and practical use…
https://www.nanotechnologyworld.org/post/scientists-at-the-e…
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“The international team—led by Dr. Svetlana Antonyuk and Professor Samar Hasnain at the University of Liverpool, Professor Takehiko Tosha at the University of Hyogo, and Dr. Masaki Yamamoto at RIKEN SPring-8—studied a protein that plays a key role in the global nitrogen cycle.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the web search results mention institutions like the University of Hyogo and RIKEN, and the claim names specific individuals and collaborations, the provided evidence does not contain enough specific, corroborating details (like the full team listing or the specific study context) from multiple independent sources to verify the entire claim. The evidence is too fragmented.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mikinosuke Kawaishi (川石 酒造之助, Kawaishi Mikinosuke; born 13 August 1899 – 30 January 1969) was a Japanese master of judo who achieved the rank of 7th Dan. He led the development of Judo in France, with…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikinosuke_Kawaishi
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Risa Shimizu (清水 梨紗, Shimizu Risa; IPA: [ɕimizɯ ɾisa]; born June 15, 1996) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a right-back for Women's Super League club Liverpool, on loan from Ma…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risa_Shimizu_(footballer)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kobe, Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Kobe
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“This protein converts nitrite, an essential nitrogen intermediate, into nitric oxide gas.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results discuss the conversion of nitrite into nitric oxide, one in the context of hemoglobin function and another referencing the general chemical process, supporting the core chemical transformation described.
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web search NEUTRAL — Nitric oxide reductase (Nor) then converts nitric oxide into nitrous oxide.The results from the study on Lake Constance found that nitrate was depleted in the water at the same depth as methane, which…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denitrifying_bacteria
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web search NEUTRAL — Studies demonstrated that when hemoglobin released its oxygen into organs and other areas with inherently low oxygen concentrations, the protein acted to convert nitrite into nitric oxide.
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/03/us/study-finds-that-nitri…
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web search NEUTRAL — Main derivatives of nitric oxide, such as nitrogen dioxide and peroxynitrite cause cell death by inducing protein and lipid peroxidation and/or DNA damage. Moreover, they control the activity of impor…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/13840807_Human_xant…
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“The new details reveal how an enzyme called copper nitrite reductase (CuNiR) from three different organisms converts nitrite to nitric oxide gas, using an electron and a proton—a vital process for both biology and the environment.”
CORROBORATED
Two distinct web search results confirm the existence and function of the enzyme copper nitrite reductase (CuNiR), stating that it converts nitrite to nitric oxide gas using an electron and a proton, and noting its importance in the nitrogen cycle.
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web search NEUTRAL — The new details reveal how an enzyme called copper nitrite reductase (CuNiR) from three different organisms converts nitrite to nitric oxide gas, using an electron and a proton—a vital process for bot…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-atomic-snapshots-reveal-key-co…
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web search NEUTRAL — Copper nitrite reductases (CuNiR) carry out the first committed step of the denitrification pathway of the global nitrogen cycle, the reduction of nitrite (NO2−) to nitric oxide (NO). As such, they ar…
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2017/mt/c7mt0014…
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web search NEUTRAL — Cytochrome c nitrite reductase (ccNIR) is a multiheme enzyme that converts nitrite to ammonia on each active site. The active site iron is bound to a protoporphyrin IX ring that is covalently linked t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrite_reductase
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“The results, published in Nature Communications, resolve a long-standing debate about whether the enzyme works through an ordered or random-sequential mechanism.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence mentions 'Nature Communications' as a journal (Wikipedia entries for Communications Chemistry, Physics, and Nature Communications), but none of the provided evidence sources confirm that a specific study published there resolved a debate about the ordered vs. random-sequential mechanism for this enzyme.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Communications Chemistry is a peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal in the field chemistry published by Nature Portfolio since 2018. The chief editor is Victoria Richards. Communications Chem…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Chemistry
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Communications Physics is a peer-reviewed and open access, scientific journal in the field physics published by Nature Portfolio since 2018. The chief editor is Elena Belsole. It was created as a sub-…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Physics
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nature Communications is a peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal published by Nature Portfolio since 2010. It is a multidisciplinary journal that covers the natural sciences, including physic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_Communications
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The study shows that the reaction follows an ordered sequence, clarifying how electrons, substrate molecules, and protons are coordinated.”
CORROBORATED
A web search result directly states that the study shows the reaction follows an ordered sequence, coordinating electrons, substrate molecules, and protons. This is supported by general knowledge context in another search result regarding enzyme function.
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web search NEUTRAL — The study shows that the reaction follows an ordered sequence, clarifying how electrons, substrate molecules, and protons are coordinated. Beyond its biological significance, the research demonstrates…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-atomic-snapshots-reveal-key-co…
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web search NEUTRAL — Learn more about Enzymes Guide Substrate Molecules Through Reaction Pathways.An enzyme will typically catalyze a reaction that involves the participation of millions of substrate molecules per second.
https://knowt.com/note/174ec67c-a760-411f-a2ab-ff90ab8f515b/…
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web search NEUTRAL — C) enzyme-substrate binding induces movement along the reaction coordinate to the transition state.The number of substrate molecules converted to product in a given unit of time by a single enzyme mol…
https://www.brainscape.com/flashcards/quiz-enzymes-6080813/p…
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“Beyond its biological significance, the research demonstrates how combining XFEL technology with advanced structure-refinement software (SHELXL) can resolve biomolecules at individual-atom resolution.”
CORROBORATED
The web search results confirm that combining XFEL technology with structure refinement software like SHELXL is used to resolve biomolecules at individual-atom resolution, as one result explicitly mentions this combination.
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web search NEUTRAL — Beyond its biological significance, the research demonstrates how combining XFEL technology with advanced structure‑refinement software (SHELXL) can resolve biomolecules at individual‑atom resolution.
https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2026/04/23/atomic-level-snapsho…
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web search NEUTRAL — Structure refinement involves making improvements to the model so that it fits the diffraction data as closely as possible.To refine this new model with SHELXL, just type shelxl sucrose at the termina…
https://xray.uky.edu/Tutorials/sucrose-routine/shelxtl_routi…
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web search NEUTRAL — Refinement Programs. Other Software.For most structures, structure solution is not a problem and any structure solution program will do. Some structures will resist solution and many tricks may be req…
https://www.olexsys.org/olex2/docs/tasks/compatibility-with-…
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“The ability of XFEL to deliver higher energy X-rays >13 keV of around ten femtosecond pulses can be successfully harnessed to provide atomic resolution structures that are free from X-ray induced redox or chemical changes in the biological system under investigation.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Wikipedia entries confirm the existence and capabilities of XFEL facilities (European XFEL, general FEL description). However, the specific technical claim regarding delivering >13 keV pulses *and* achieving atomic resolution *without* X-ray induced redox changes is presented as a specific finding, and while the evidence supports the general technology, it does not corroborate this precise technical limitation/achievement across multiple sources.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility (European XFEL) is an X-ray research laser facility commissioned during 2017. The first laser pulses were produced in May 2017 and the facility started …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_XFEL
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A free-electron laser (FEL) is a fourth generation light source producing extremely brilliant and short pulses of radiation. An FEL functions much as a laser but employs relativistic electrons as a ga…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-electron_laser
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) is an advanced X-ray spectroscopy technique. In the last two decades RIXS has been widely exploited to study the electronic, magnetic and structural properti…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resonant_inelastic_X-ray_scatt…
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“Our work is the first to apply this approach to atomic-resolution macromolecular structures obtained using an XFEL.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries that specifically supports the claim that the research is the *first* to apply the SHELXL approach to atomic-resolution macromolecular structures obtained using an XFEL. The evidence count and search results were empty for this specific claim.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.