X-ray Diffraction Laboratory Upgrade

该奖项支持普渡大学用于生物大分子单晶研究的X射线衍射实验室的能力和可靠性的改进。利用这种载体获得的设备将用于研究蛋白质、RNA分子和蛋白质-核酸复合体的三维晶体结构。对这种结构的了解对于在分子水平上理解生物大分子如何在各种过程中发挥作用是必不可少的。将获得三种类型的设备：一种新的衍射仪，它将提高产量，并通过提供更单色和更强的X射线束，将有助于研究非常大的大分子。这台新仪器将允许快速冻结的晶体在冻结状态下保存下来，供以后的衍射实验使用。现有衍射仪的新光学系统将提高X射线的强度和质量，允许进行比现在更昂贵的测量和使用更小的晶体。最后，将得到一种新的显微分光光度计，用于监测酶反应和测量结晶大分子的配体结合。该奖项为美国当代生物学最重要领域之一的领先学术实验室之一提供了更好的基础设施。

This award supports improvements in the capability and reliability of the X-ray diffraction laboratory used for study of single crystals of biological macromolecules at Purdue University. The equipment to be obtained with this support will be used for in research aimed at determination of the three-dimensional crystal structures of proteins, RNA molecules, and of protein-nucleic acid complexes. Knowledge of such structures are essential to molecular level understanding of how biological macromolecules function in a variety of processes. Three types of equipment will be obtained: a new diffraction instrument that will improve throughput and, by providing a more monochromatic and intense X-ray beam, that will facilitate the study of very large macromolecules. The new instrument will allow flash-frozen crystals to be saved in their frozen state for later diffraction experiments. A new optical system for an existing diffraction instrument will improve the intensity and quality of the X-ray beam, permitting more pricise measurements and use of smaller crystals than now possible. Finally a new microspectrophotometer will be obtained to monitor enzymatic reactions and measure ligand binding of crystalline macromolecules. The award provides improved infrastructure for one of the nation's leading academic laboratories in one of the most important areas of contemporary biology.