Acquisition of a high-Resolution Data Collection System

由这一提议资助的X射线晶体数据收集站是新一代超高强度X射线发生器的第一个，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，可以在原始源中给出接近同步的结果。该系统由MicroMax007高通量射线发生器和VariMax高分辨率光学元件组成，能够产生2.95x10^9光子/秒的束流，几乎相当于一条第三代同步加速器弯曲磁力线。数据采集站将通过允许科学家快速访问这些设施，极大地提高德克萨斯农工大学的几个结构生物学研究项目的能力。受该仪器影响最大的六个结构生物学领域将是：高分辨率结构测定、快速抑制物筛选、膜结构测定、蛋白质折叠、酶机制和蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用。这一仪器还将有助于开发用于自动结构确定和现场筛选的软件包。生物、生物化学和生物物理学、化学和计算机科学系的教职员工和学生组成了德克萨斯农工大学结构生物学中心，他们将是该仪器的主要用户。这些研究计划与他们的项目相结合，以弥合结构科学中其他方法之间的差距，包括核磁共振、荧光、CD、计算生物学和蛋白质结晶学，最终为了解蛋白质结构和功能的细节提供了一种无缝的方法。这项提议中要求的X射线数据收集设备将使研究人员社区能够将他们的研究扩展到结构生物学。这将有助于我们努力创建新的协作，同时加强现有的协作。生物、生物化学、免疫学和生物物理学领域的交叉培训努力将大大增加，有助于研究生和博士后的教育。通过这样做，改进后的培训最终将增加招生力量，使德克萨斯农工大学对代表性不足的科学家更具吸引力。随着这种仪器被纳入结构生物学课程，本科生和研究生的教育，加上实践经验，将得到改善。

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.