A recent IDAT [publication](http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S0909049512035571) from James, Chris, and Ken investigating the source of the point spread function in detectors using CCDs coupled fiber optic tapers. >The point-spread function (PSF) of a fiber-optic taper-coupled CCD area detector was measured over five decades of intensity using a 20 µm X-ray beam and 2000-fold averaging. The “tails” of…
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Hello DOMO users, [DOMO](http://bl1231.als.lbl.gov/domo/) is fairly robust, and is capable of handling your precious crystals mounted in a variety of bases: However, you must take some care when gluing or epoxying the pins into the bases. If there is too much glue or epoxy or you inadvertantly get some on the sides or bottom of…
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Summary of Options for Applying for Beamtime at the ALS 1. [RAPIDD](http://www-als.lbl.gov/index.php/component/content/article/701-rapidd-proposal-process.html) – a rapid access process, replaces the 2-month proposal system. SAXS proposals should use the RAPIDD system. MX applicants may apply for either RAPIDD or 6 Month Proposals. The aim is to provide quick turnaround. Proposals are fairly simple, requiring a one page…
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3rd annual SIBYLS bioSAXS workshop is ON !! Date: October 9-10, 2012 Location: Advance Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, CA The SIBYLS team will host a workshop with strong emphasis on experimental aspects of Small Angle X-ray Scattering techniques in structural biology. The two-day workshop will provide training on experimental…
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We bring to your attention a nice review published recently in the European Biophysics Journal describing the theoretical and practical considerations when using SAXS to characterize macromolecular flexibility. >The dynamics of macromolecular conformations are critical to the action of cellular networks. Solution X-ray scattering studies, in combination with macromolecular X-ray crystallography (MX) and nuclear magnetic…
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SAXS was used to characterize the structural effects of phosphorylation events that modulate the ability of retinoblastoma protein to associate with E2F and other proteins. This work has been published in Genes & Development in the May 8th Advanced Online Articles section. >Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) phosphorylation of the Retinoblastoma protein (Rb) drives cell proliferation through…
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Poly ADP-ribosylation regulates cellular processes such as genomic stability maintenance, transcription and cell death. The structure of rat poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase has been determined using crystallographic data collected at the SIBYLS beamline, giving insights into the enzyme’s endoglycosidase activity and providing a basis for the development of therapeutic inhibitors. > Reversible post-translational modification by poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR)…
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Researchers with JCSG have recently determined the structure of [TadZ](http://www.pdb.org/pdb/explore/explore.do?structureId=3fkq) bound to ATP. This new PDB along with the structures of other pilins and pilin associated proteins have been chosen as the [PSI featured system of the month](http://sbkb.org/kb/archives.jsp?pageshow=49) for April. Bacteria typically have a large number of genes that encode proteins for the synthesis, localization…
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