This group of Structural Biologists from several Gulf Coast Consortia institutions
has joined together to promote biological SAXS (BioSAXS) in the Greater Houston Area.
We have recognized the need to supplement our crystallographic, NMR, electron microscopy,
and biochemical data, with solution scattering. Our research interests cover a broad area,
but need additional information about our systems, such as: conformational rearangement, protein:protein or
protein:nucleic acid interactions, and the conformational ensemble of states, that can most
readily be determined via solution scattering.
The Rigaku BioSAXS-1000 coupled with the FR-E ++ x-ray source provides the best home-lab SAXS camera for biological samples. The camera is equiped with a 96-well automatic sample changer (ASC-96) with an in-vacu quartz flow-cell. In addition, we have several quartz sample cells for manual loading of smaller sample volumes or detergent samples, which are not compatible with the ASC-96 liquid handling system. The quality of SAXS data obtained with the BioSAXS camera has been exceptional. Using our in-house SAXNS web-services for data processing and analysis the optimal quality data can be collected. It is not unusual to collect useful data to the limit of the detector (q~0.7 Å -1 ). The SCSB BioSAXS facility fulfills a regional need for BioSAXS instrumentation and expertise.
The SCSB research resources consist of several Center research labs designed to pursue intensive use of instrumentation by UTMB Structural Biologists, and thus are considered research facilities rather than fee-for-service cores. This includes the MXL BioSAXS facility. Facility users must supply their own materials and personnel associated with the measurement, otherwise there are no fees for users. In almost all cases, use of Center research resources is initiated either by a full member of the Center faculty or a Center Facility Lab Manager. Full Center faculty members (PIs) are entitled to engage in research of their own or in collaboration. There have been several regional BioSAXS collaborations between the SCSB and Texas area researchers. However, before initiating a project ALL researchers must: (1) Discuss the project with a Center collaborator and (2) Sign a memorandum of understanding ( MOU ) for the project. The MOU outlines the role of Center and researcher. The MOU is usually created by the Manager for the collaborator.
To initiate a project in the Center please contact:
A Center Faculty member
,
the Facility Manager ( Mark Andrew White
, Ph.D.),
Or the Center Director, Monte Pettitt,Ph.D.