Methods, systems, and compositions for studying solvent accessibility and three-dimensional structure of biological molecules

A system for modifying a biological molecule, the system comprising:

• a sample chamber configured to contain a sample including a biological molecule, the sample chamber comprising a chemically and biologically inert inner surface;
• a ground electrode;
• a dielectric separating the sample chamber from the ground electrode;
• a plasma electrode;
• a power supply;
• and
• a control system in electronic communication with the power supply, the ground electrode, and the plasma electrode, wherein the control system is configured to cause the system to:
• generate a plasma;
• and terminate the plasma for a length of time following the generating of the plasma,
• wherein the plasma is generated in the presence of a plurality of marker radical precursors such that, when the sample chamber contains the sample, the plasma converts one or more of the plurality of marker radical precursors into one or more marker radicals to interact with the biological molecule,
• wherein the length of time is sufficient for the one or more marker radicals to interact with the biological molecule,
• wherein the generating and terminating of the plasma causes a detectable difference in the biological molecule without elevating a temperature of the sample by an amount that initiate denaturation of the biological molecule.

A system for modifying a biological molecule, the system comprising:

• a sample chamber configured to contain a sample including a biological molecule, the sample chamber comprising a chemically and biologically inert inner surface;
• a ground electrode;
• a dielectric separating the sample chamber from the ground electrode;
• a plasma electrode;
• a power supply;
• and
• a control system in electronic communication with the power supply, the ground electrode, and the plasma electrode, the control system configured to utilize electrical power from the power supply with the plasma electrode and the ground electrode to:
• generate a plasma;
• and terminate the plasma for a length of time following the generating of the plasma,
• wherein the plasma is generated such that, when the sample chamber contains the sample, the plasma converts one or more of a plurality of marker radical precursors into one or more marker radicals to interact with the biological molecule,
• wherein the length of time is sufficient for the one or more marker radicals to interact with the biological molecule,
• wherein the generating and terminating of the plasma causes a detectable difference in the biological molecule without elevating temperature of the sample by an amount that initiates denaturation of the biological molecule.

A system for modifying a biological molecule, the system comprising:

• a sample chamber configured to contain a sample including a biological molecule, the sample chamber comprising a chemically and biologically inert inner surface;
• a ground electrode;
• a dielectric separating the sample chamber from the ground electrode;
• a plasma electrode;
• a power supply;
• and
• a control system in electronic communication with the power supply, the ground electrode, and the plasma electrode, the control system configured to utilize electrical power from the power supply with the plasma electrode and the ground electrode to:
• generate a sequence of plasma pulses;
• and terminate the plasma pulses for a length of time following the generating of the sequence of plasma pulses,
• wherein the sequence of plasma pulses is generated such that, when the sample chamber contains the sample, the plasma converts one or more of a plurality of marker radical precursors into one or more marker radicals to interact with the biological molecule,
• wherein the length of time is sufficient for the one or more marker radicals to interact with the biological molecule,
• wherein the generating and terminating of the plasma causes detectable difference in the biological molecule without elevating temperature of the sample by an amount that initiate denaturation of the biological molecule.