Macromolecular Crystallography at the National Synchrotron Light Source

描述（由申请人提供）：国家同步加速器光源（NSLS）的大分子晶体学研究资源（PXRR）操作六条光束线，约160个外部研究小组和六个布鲁克海文实验室小组使用这些光束线进行研究。这些科学家在典型的一年里发表了200多篇研究论文，在过去的一年里发表了300多篇蛋白质数据库论文。PXRR开创了一个积极的Mail-in项目，包括与大约15个外部研究小组的持续合作，以及与更多研究小组的短期合作或服务项目。在过去的几年里，邮件计划已经与90个团体进行了互动；在过去的四年中，每年大约有25个PDB的证词和15个来自Mail-in计划的出版物。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大分子晶体学技术。在即将到来的周期中，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，开发机器人低温标本处理，以及同时测量紫外线，可见或拉曼红外光谱与x射线衍射。PXRR的工作人员将执行许多小型研究项目，其中包括改善微小标本的可视化和改进标本的低温保存。PXRR的长期目标是在布鲁克海文实验室（Brookhaven Lab）未来五到七年内创建的新型同步加速器光源NSLS-II上为大分子晶体学创造资源。当NSLS-II开始运行时，目标将是有几个大分子晶体学光束线在运行。这个项目将涉及同第二国家安全实验室的工作人员直接合作，为这些设施制订一个完整的计划，然后开始实现这个计划。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 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 past year. The PXRR have pioneered an active Mail-in program that involves ongoing collaborations with about 15 outside research groups and short collaborations or service projects with many more. The Mail-in program has interacted with 90 groups in the past several years; each year for the past four years there have been about 25 PDB depositions and 15 publications from the Mail-in program. The PXRR performs research and development on apparatus, methods, and software to improve the technology for synchrotron-based macromolecular crystallography. Special emphases during the coming cycle will be on the development of detectors that will match the power and collimation of modern x-ray sources, the use of micron-sized crystals, the development of robotic cryogenic specimen handling, and the 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.