A Synchroton Radiation Structural Biology Resource

同步辐射(SR)是一种非常明亮和可调谐的X射线源，使结构分子生物学(SMB)的前沿研究成为可能。美国国立卫生研究院和美国能源部在斯坦福大学的同步辐射光源(SSRL)上资助了一个“同步加速器结构生物学资源”，以开发大分子结晶学、X射线吸收光谱和小角X射线散射/衍射方面的新技术，培训/支持用户，并将这些能力传播给生物医学研究界。这项建议是为了继续为这一资源提供资金、运作和未来的发展。新的举措将利用SSRL的第三代存储环矛不断提高的SR性能。还建议开发世界上第一台X射线自由电子激光器(LCLS)的选定SMB应用，该激光器刚刚在SLAC开始运行。SSRL的主要目标是优化SSRL 9条SMB专用束线上的实验设施和仪器、探测器、软件和计算性能(另有两条正在建设中)，以充分利用SPEAR3在500 mA电流下提供的高亮度。这将使资源能够通过以下新举措推进科学前沿：以最先进的仪器和方法、创新软件和自动化/高通量系统为基础：研究大型复杂分子和分子机器的高分辨率结构/功能；成像非晶态生物材料中元素的空间分布和化学性质；调查生物物理学中的基本问题，如蛋白质和核糖核酸折叠；开发/改进方法，利用超快或快速散射和吸收技术研究化学和生物系统中非常快速的时间分辨结构变化。软件方面的并行开发将促进这些科学进步，为仪器和探测器控制、远程数据收集和实时数据分析提供扩展能力。推动涉及大量外部科学家的生物医学项目和合作研究计划将推动和支持核心技术开发，通过与NCRR CTSA中心的合作加快翻译研究的步伐，以及在培训和传播方面高度活跃的计划将把它们带到广泛的用户社区。

Synchrotron radiation (SR) is an extremely bright and tunable x-ray source that enables forefront research in Structural molecular biology (SMB). A "Synchrotron Structural Biology Resource" is supported at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) by the NIH and DOE to develop new technologies in macromolecular crystallography, x-ray absorption spectroscopy and small angle x-ray scattering/diffraction, to train/support users, and to disseminate these capabilities to the biomedical research community. This proposal is for the continued funding, operation and future development of this Resource. New initiatives will capitalize on the increasing SR performance of SSRL's 3rd generation storage ring SPEARS. Proposed also is the development of selected SMB applications of the world's first x-ray free-electron laser (LCLS), just beginning operation at SLAC. A principal aim is to optimize experimental facilities and instrumentation, detectors, software and compute performance on the 9+ SMB dedicated beam lines at SSRL (with another two in construction) to take full advantage of the high brightness provided by SPEAR3 at 500 mA current. This will enable the Resource to advance the scientific forefront with new initiatives built upon state-of-the-art instrumentation and methodologies, innovative software and automated/high-throughput systems for: studying high resolution structures/function of large, complex blomolecules and molecular machines; imaging the spatial distribution and chemical nature of elements in non-crystalline biological materials; investigating fundamental questions in biophysics such as protein and RNA folding; and developing/improving methods for studying very fast time-resolved structural changes in chemical and biological systems with ultrafast or fast scattering and absorption techniques. These scientific advancements will be facilitated by parallel developments in software to provide expanded capabilities for instrument and detector control, remote data collection and real-time data analysis. Driving biomedical projects and collaborative research programs involving a large number of outside scientists will drive and support core technological developments, the pace of translational research will be accelerated through collaborations with NCRR CTSA Centers, and a highly active program in training and dissemination will bring them to a wide user community.