Science Highlights

Super-Resolution in Solution X-Ray Scattering and Its Applications to Structural Systems Biology

Rob and John have a new review on SAXS and its application to systems biology published in the Annual Review of Biophysics. See if you can spot the musical theme. >Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a robust technique for the comprehensive structural characterizations of biological macromolecular complexes in solution. Here, we present a coherent synthesis…
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Andre Guinier rolling in his grave: the first new SAXS invariant discovered in 65 years

Rob Rambo and John Tainer describe new SAS metrics in a paper titled “Accurate assessment of mass, models and resolution by small-angle scattering.” The paper has been published in the journal Nature. > “In SAS imaging, beams of X-rays or neutrons sent through a sample produce tiny collisions between the X-rays or neutrons and nano-…
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High Throughput Capabilities and Hybrid Methods at SIBYLS

A manuscript highlighting the technical capabilities of the SIBYLS beamline has been published in the Journal of Applied Crystallography: > The SIBYLS beamline (12.3.1) of the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, supported by the US Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health, is optimized for both small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)…
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The point-spread function of fiber-coupled area detectors

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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Keeping DOMO happy

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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ALS User Office Implements New Proposal Mechanism

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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Course on SAXS from Biological Material

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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Review: Validating Macromolecular Flexibility by SAXS

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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