Science Highlights

SAXS and MX data collected at SIBYLS enabled insights into protein flexibility in one of the proteins involved in Lou Gerigh’s disease. The results were recently published in PNAS and have been highlighted by [Today At Berkeley Lab](http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2014/10/13/berkeley-lab-and-scripps-research-institute-scientists-link-als-progression-to-increased-protein-instability/) and and [Daily Cal](http://www.dailycal.org/2014/10/16/berkeley-lab-scripps-institute-propose-cause-als/). >Protein framework alterations in heritable Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) mutants cause misassembly…
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Recently in Science: >Structure determination of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is necessary for understanding their physical and chemical properties, but only one AuNP larger than 1 nanometer in diameter [a 102-gold atom NP (Au102NP)] has been solved to atomic resolution. Whereas the Au102NP structure was determined by x-ray crystallography, other large AuNPs have proved refractory to…
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A new publication is available that describes practical aspects of collecting High-throughput SAXS data at the SIBYLS beamline, with a focus on challenging low concentration samples. Additional practical advice is laid out with respect to interpreting the resulting data. Dyer KN, Hammel M, Rambo RP, Tsutakawa SE, Rodic I, Classen S, Tainer JA, Hura GL.…
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The SIBYLS beamline was instrumental in providing key structural data for two recent publications exploring the dynamic nature of DNA repair. >The Mre11‐Rad50 complex is highly conserved, yet the mechanisms by which Rad50 ATP‐driven states regulate the sensing, processing and signaling of DNA double‐strand breaks are largely unknown. Here we design structure‐based mutations in Pyrococcus…
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Greg Hura and colleagues developed and applied nanogold labels for DNA complexes with proteins examined by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to follow DNA conformations acting in error detection by the mismatch repair (MMR) system in solution. This technique can examine short or long pieces of DNA and in most solution conditions, including those closest…
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