Macromolecular Crystallography at the National Synchrotron Light Source

国家同步加速器光源(NSLS)的高分子晶体研究资源(PXRR)运营着六条光束线，用于约160个外部研究小组和六个布鲁克海文实验室小组的研究。这些科学家通常每年发表200多篇研究论文，去年发表300多份蛋白质数据库的证词。PXRR开创了一项主动邮寄计划，该计划包括与大约15个外部研究小组进行积极合作，并与更多小组进行短期合作或服务项目。该计划在过去几年中与90个团体进行了互动，在过去四年中，每年都有大约25份PDB证词和15份出版物来自该计划。 PXRR在设备、方法和软件方面进行研究和开发，以改进基于同步加速器的高分子结晶学技术。在接下来的周期中，特别强调的将是开发与现代X射线源的功率和准直相匹配的探测器、使用微米尺寸的晶体、开发机器人低温样品处理以及利用X射线衍射同时测量紫外线、可见光或拉曼红外光谱。PXRR的工作人员将执行许多小型研究计划，其中包括改善微小标本的可视化和改善标本的低温保存。 PXRR的长期目标是在NSLS-II上创造一个用于大分子结晶学的资源，NSLS-II是布鲁克海文实验室在未来五到七年内创造的新的同步辐射光源。目标是当NSLS-II开始运行时，有几条大分子晶体光束线在运行。该项目将涉及与NSLS-II工作人员直接合作，为这些设施制定一个完整的计划，然后开始实现这一计划。

The Macromolecular Crystallography Research Resource (PXRR) at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) operates six beamlines that are employed for research by about 160 outside research groups and half a dozen Brookhaven Lab groups. These scientists produce over 200 research publications in a typical year, and over 300 Protein Data Bank depositions in the last year. The PXRR have pioneered an active Mail-in program that involves active collaborations with about 15 outside research groups, and short collaborations or service projects with many more. This program has interacted with 90 groups in the last several years, and there have been about 25 PDB depositions and 15 publications from this program in each of the last four years. The PXRR performs research and development on apparatus, methods, and software to improve the technology for synchrotron-based macromolecular crystallography. Special emphasis during the coming cycle will be on development of detectors that will match the power and collimation of modern x-ray sources, use of micron-sized crystals, development of robotic cryogenic specimen handling, and simultaneous measurement of UV, Visible, or Raman IR spectra with x-ray diffraction. The PXRR staff will execute numerous small research programs, among other things to improve visualization of tiny specimens and improve cryogenic preservation of specimens. A long-term goal for the PXRR is to create a resource for macromolecular crystallography at NSLS-II, the new synchrotron light source that is being created at Brookhaven Lab during the next five to seven years. The objective will be to have several macromolecular crystallography beamlines in operation when NSLS-II begins operation. This project will involve direct cooperation with NSLS-II staff to develop a complete plan for such facilities, and then to begin to achieve that plan.