NE-CAT: A Resource for Advanced Macromolecular Crystallography

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The main goal of the NE-CAT Resource is to provide user access to state-of-the-art synchrotron beamlines for macromolecular crystallography. NE-CAT began planning and design for two beamlines in 2001. Beamline 24- ID-C became available to the Advanced Photon Source users in 2006 and beamline 24-ID-E became available in 2007. During the ensuing years, beamline improvements have resulted in ultrastable, small X-ray beams ideally suited for challenging problems in macromolecular crystallography. Each beamline is equipped with a high capacity sample automounter and a microdiffractometer. Beamline 24-ID-C features a PILATUS 6MF pixel array detector, and by early 2017 an EIGER 16M pixel array detector will be available on beamline ID-24- E. NE-CAT provides automated software for data collection and analysis (RAPD) and a Web-based interface for remote data collection. We will continue to provide routine maintenance to ensure efficient and reliable data collection, and we propose an upgrade program to maintain state-of-the-art capabilities over the five years covered by this application. NE-CAT has an experienced and dedicated scientific staff who enable access to the beamlines. The staff is available or on call 24/7 to assist users with data collection and processing needs. This highly regarded staff is a major strength of NE-CAT. NE-CAT has an outstanding record of reliability with technical problems rarely interfering with user access. NE-CAT is directed by Dr. Steven Ealick, who has more that 25 years of experience overseeing the operation of synchrotron facilities for macromolecular crystallography. The technical group, led by Deputy Director Dr. Malcolm Capel, and the operations group, led by Associate Director Dr. Kanagalaghatta Rajashankar work closely together to ensure that the needs of the user community are met. Assistant Director Dr. Frank Murphy is responsible for development and maintenance of RAPD. Together, these four individuals make up the NE-CAT management team. NE-CAT beam time is in high demand, and each run all available beamtime is allocated to users. NE-CAT typically hosts more than 1500 users per year from about 160 unique user groups, either on site or remotely. NE-CAT users published about 150 papers during the last year, and they are projected to publish around 170 in 2016. NE-CAT's record of productivity places us among the top of worldwide facilities for macromolecular crystallography. NE-CAT operates an extensive user training program adaptable to first time users, advanced users with technically challenging problems, and everyone in between. A Web site is available to provide all information needed by new or current users. NE-CAT participates in many training and outreach activities including organization of an annual workshop and participation in professional society meetings. The staff works closely with user groups and are often invited to coauthor manuscripts resulting from user assistance.