Acquisition of a high-Resolution Data Collection System

由该提案资助的X射线晶体学数据收集站代表了新一代极高强度X射线发生器中的第一个，当与VariMax高分辨率和高通量光学器件以及高分辨率图像板探测器相结合时，可以在家庭源中提供近同步加速器的结果。该系统由MicroMax 007高通量X射线发生器和VariMax高分辨率光学器件组成，能够产生2.95x10^9光子/秒的光束通量，几乎等于第三代同步加速器偏转磁力线。数据收集站将大大提高德克萨斯州A M的几个结构生物学研究项目的能力，使科学家能够快速访问这些设施。结构生物学中受该仪器影响最大的六个领域将是：高分辨率结构测定、快速抑制剂筛选、膜结构测定、蛋白质折叠、酶机制和蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用。该仪器还将有助于开发用于自动结构测定和场内筛选的软件包。 生物学，生物化学和生物物理学，化学和计算机科学系内的教师和学生的多学科小组，包括德克萨斯州A M结构生物学中心，并将成为该仪器的主要用户。这些研究项目将他们的项目连接起来，以弥合结构科学中其他方法之间的差距，包括NMR，荧光，CD，计算生物学和蛋白质晶体学，最终提供一种无缝的方法来了解蛋白质结构和功能的细节。本提案中要求的X射线数据收集设备将使研究人员能够将其研究扩展到结构生物学。 这将有助于我们努力创造新的合作，同时加强现有的合作。将大大增加生物学、生物化学、免疫学和生物物理学领域之间的交叉培训，帮助培养研究生和博士后。通过这样做，改进的培训将最终增加招聘能力，使德克萨斯农工大学更吸引代表性不足的科学家。本科和研究生教育，动手经验，将得到改善，因为这种仪器被纳入结构生物学课程。

The X-ray crystallography data collection station funded by this proposal represents the first of a new generation of very high intensity X-ray generators that, when coupled with VariMax High-Resolution and High-Flux optics and a high resolution image plate detector, can give near synchrotron results in a home source. The system consists of a MicroMax007 High-Flux x-ray generator with VariMax high-resolution optics capable of generating a beam flux of 2.95x10^9photons/sec, almost equal to a 3rd generation synchrotron bending magnet line. The data collection station will greatly increase the capabilities of several structural biology research programs at Texas A&M by allowing scientists rapid access to these facilities. The six areas of structural biology most impacted by the instrument will be: high-resolution structure determination, rapid inhibitor screening, membrane structure determination, protein folding, enzyme mechanism, and protein-protein interactions. This instrumentation will also aid in the development of software packages for automated structure determination and in-silco screening. The multidisciplinary group of faculty and students within the Departments of Biology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Chemistry, and Computer Science, comprise the Texas A&M Center for Structural Biology and will be the primary users of the instrument. These research programs interface their projects to bridge gaps between other methods in structural sciences including NMR, fluorescence, CD, computational biology, and protein crystallography, ultimately providing a seamless approach to understanding the details of protein structure and function. The X-ray data collection equipment requested in this proposal will allow for a community of researchers to expand their research into structural biology. This will aid in our efforts to create new collaborations, while enhancing existing collaborations. Cross training efforts among the fields of biology, biochemistry, immunology and biophysics will be greatly increased, aiding in the education of both graduate and post-doctoral students. In doing so, the improved training will ultimately increase the recruitment power, making Texas A&M University more inviting to underrepresented scientists. Undergraduate and graduate education, with hands on experience, will be improved as this instrumentation is incorporated into the structural biology curriculum.