Science Highlights

Fast X-ray Scattering : FoXS

SIBYLS staff together with Dina Schneidman from Andrej Sali’s lab have developed the FoXS web application. FoXS (Fast X-Ray Scattering) is a rapid method for computing a SAXS profile of a given structure and for matching of the computed and experimental profiles. In our recent publication in Nucleic Acid Research we describe the interface and…
Read more

Mre11 is the May 2010 PSI featured molecule

Near and dear to our heart, Mre11, has been chosen as the May 2010 [featured molecule](http://dx.doi.org/10.3942/psi_sgkb/fm_2010_5) by the Protein Structure Initiative. Additionally, the blurb on the PSI website features a beautiful rendering of the *Pyrococcus furiosus* and *Thermotoga maritima* Mre11 nucleases created by [David Goodsell](http://mgl.scripps.edu/people/goodsell/).

Rotary motion of Rho hexameric helicase elucidated

UC Berkeley researchers, James Berger and Nathan Thomsen, used the SIBYLS beamline to solve the structure of a hexameric helicase, the Rho transcription termination factor (from E. coli), bound to both ATP mimics and an RNA substrate. The results showed that Rho functions like a rotary engine: as the motor spins, it pulls RNA strands…
Read more

New Web-Based DVD Backup Service

We are pleased to announce a new web-based [DVD backup system](/DvdSystem) now available at the SIBYLS beamline. It is fairly straightforward to use, but we have included a set of detailed [instructions](/dvd_backups/dvd_backup.php) to help get you started. Just login in with your SIBYLS username and password and follow the simple steps to create your custom…
Read more

Accurate Direct Beam Position Now in Image Header

For the MX endstation we’ve characterized the dependence of the direct beam on detector distance and 2-theta. We collected 4 sweeps of the detector from 120mm to 1600mm combined with 2-theta offsets from 0º up to 12º. These are the gnuplot 3D plots of the data. This set of 3D plots uses gnuplots pm3d settings…
Read more

Fast SAXS profile computation with Debye formula

FoXS, a new webapp which uses the Debye formula for calculating theoretical scattering profiles, has been made available on the ModBase website. Give it a try to see how it compares to CRYSOL. FoXS is a method for computing a theoretical scattering profile of a structure and fitting of experimental profile. FoXS can be used…
Read more

Science selects ABA receptors as breakthrough of the year runner-up

Science magazine has selected plant [ABA receptors](http://www.sciencemag.org/btoy2009/ru_links.html#ru3links) as one of the runners-up for the 2009 Breakthrough of the Year award. MX and SAXS data collected at the SIBYLS beamline were integral to the research article published in the Dec 4th issue of Science. This work was recognized as contributing to the fundamental breakthrough in the…
Read more

Recent SAXS structures

SAXS capabilities of the SIBYLS beamline are demonstrated quite nicely in recent papers published in September and October. Datta AB, Hura GL, Wolberger C. “The structure and conformation of Lys63-linked tetraubiquitin.” J Mol Biol. 2009 Oct 9;392(5):1117-24. Epub 2009 Aug 4. Jain R, Hammel M, Johnson RE, Prakash L, Prakash S, Aggarwal AK. “Structural Insights…
Read more