Macromolecular Crystallography is a technique used to study biological molecules such as proteins, viruses and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) to a resolution higher than ~5Å. This high resolution helps elucidate the detailed mechanism by which these macromolecules carry out their functions in living cells and organisms. Protein molecules can crystallize under regulated conditions; the crystals are made up of multiple copies of the molecule arranged in a regular 3-dimensional lattice. The x-rays deflected ("scattered") by the atoms in equivalent positions in the crystal lattice concentrate into sharp intense spots (crystal diffraction pattern). The macromolecular structure can be determined by analysis of the intensities and positions of the diffraction spots.

The Macromolecular Crystallography Group at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource operates and develops beamlines providing state of the art macromolecular crystallography facilities and support for visiting researchers. Of the beamlines currently operational BL9-2 and BL14-1 are designed for MAD experiments; the side station BL7-1 is also MAD capable at slightly reduced energy resolution. BL12-1 and BL12-2, with an undulator source, are optimized for microfocus applications, but can also be used for conventional experiments (MAD, screening, etc.). Researchers from universities, industry, and government laboratories around the world can gain access to the beamline facilities by submitting a research proposal. Updates on beamline facilities and other user information are posted here.

News:
Beam Line 7-1 9-2 12-1 12-2 14-1
Flux @500 mA (p/s)
and maximum beam size
3x1010
Wavelength 1.10Å
6.4x1011
Wavelength 0.98Å
4.0x1012
Wavelength 1.14Å
4.0x1012
Wavelength 0.98Å
1.7x1011
Wavelength 1.20Å
Experiment Monochromatic,
MAD/SAD
Monochromatic,
MAD/SAD
Monochromatic,
MAD/SAD, Microbeam
Monochromatic,
MAD/SAD, Microbeam
Monochromatic,
MAD/SAD
Special instrumentation UV-Vis microspec RT remote access
Wavelength (Å)
Energy Range (keV)
0.97-1.75
7.1-12.7
0.86-2.06
6.0-14.0
0.69-2.00
6.2-18.0
0.73-1.85
6.69-17.0
0.95-2.06
6.0-13.0
Beam Size, V:H (µm) 100:100-250:250 75:100-100:200 5:40-200:150 15:15, 15:50-150:150 50:50-80:200
Detector Q315R PILATUS 6M PAD EIGER 2XE 16M PAD EIGER 16M PAD PILATUS 6M PAD
Detector Size (mm2) 315x315 431x448 311x328 311x328 431x448
Xtal-Detector (mm) 110-650 169-650 160-814 150-900 160-500
BL phone (+1-650) 926-5271 926-5292 926-2012 926-5212 926-5141
Support phone (+1-650) 283-4556 714-9417 714-9405 714-9414 307-4151
Common Facilities
Remote Access Remote access tools Sample Database
Spreadsheet templates
Remote Unix Desktop Web-Ice (access through NXClient only)
Beamline Hardware Stanford Auto-Mounter (SAM) Xe/Kr Incubation Toolboard Other Tools
Computing Resources Control Software Blu-Ice Computers Software Data Backup
Participating Research Institutions
Caltech Genentech Scripps Research Institute Stanford University

Funding
Stanford University