[phenixbb] Beamtime at the ALS-BCSB beamlines

[Peter Zwart]

Dear All,

September 15, 2010 is the deadline for the November/December 2010
Rapid Access Proposal cycle.
All Berkeley Center for Structural Biology(BCSB) beamlines are
equipped with ADSC Q315/Q315R detectors, automated sample changers and
data collection software enabling high-throughput crystal screening
and data collection.
Remote data collection is available on all BCSB beamlines, providing
the user with the full complement of sample visualization, sample
manipulation, beamline control, data acquisition and data analysis
tools exactly as they would see them if they were stationed at the
beamline. The main difference between local operation and remote
operation, is the length of the network cable!  This enhanced remote
operation capability is coupled with *22hr onsite support* by BCSB
staff who are able to assist immediately with loading additional
samples for remote users or troubleshoot any issues that might arise.
Remote users can furthermore be kept up-to-date on changes in ring
status via an SMS service
(http://bcsb.als.lbl.gov/wiki/index.php/Ring_Status_Notifications_to_Cell_Phone)
or via twitter (@AlsRingStatus).
Specific features are summarized below.

Beamlines 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 5.0.3:
--------------------------------------
Beamline 5.0.2 is equipped with a novel variable collimator allowing
users to adjust the beamsize continuously and on the fly between 25
and 100 micron, both horizontally and vertically. With a collimator
setting of 30x30 micron, typical exposures are around 1 to 2 second.
The Berkeley Automounter sample handling system has a routine capacity
of 96 samples (6 pucks). In a typical high-throughput screening mode,
the mount-to-mount time is around 2.5 minutes per sample, allowing
users to screen a full puck within 45 minutes. The sector 5 beamline
user stations are equipped with fully high-adjustable, ergonomically
friendly work stations.

Beamlines 8.2.1 and 8.2.2:
-----------------------------------

To facilitate studies on small crystals, a microdiffractometer was
installed in the beamline 8.2.1 endstation. The new equipment allows
precise sample positioning to within 2 microns, excellent sample
viewing of very small crystals, and an off-axis crystal
positioningstage. Both beamlines 8.2.1 and 8.2.2 feature a Rigaku
sample changer (Actor), allowing remote operations to now be a routine
mode of access for these beamlines.

Data analyses in the BCSB is facilitated by software maintained by
sbgrid (http://www.sbgrid.org).  A 16 core linux machine is available
for our users to process their data and solve/refine their structure.
An additional mode of access to the BCSB beamlines is through the
Collaborative Crystallography (CC) Program. Users apply for beamtime
via the general user program, and collaborate with an expert
crystallographer who will conduct the experiments and data reduction
on behalf of the researchers. Depending on the users, structure
solution, model building and refinement can be carried out as well.
Please contact BCSBBeamtime at lbl.gov for more information.

Please visit http://bcsb.lbl.gov/ for more details about the Center
and its beamlines.
To find out more, click on:
http://www.als.lbl.gov/als/quickguide/independinvest.html
We invite you to submit a proposal at:
http://alsusweb.lbl.gov/
Scroll down to "Structural Biology beamines (includes protein SAXS)."
Click on "New Proposal."
If you have any questions or would like to request open beamtime,
please e-mail BCSBBeamtime at lbl.gov.
Please note that executed user agreements must be received by LBNL
prior to beamtime. Proprietary fees, if applicable, must be received
by LBNL at least five working days prior to scheduled beamtime.

--
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P.H. Zwart
Research Scientist
Berkeley Center for Structural Biology
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA-94703, USA
Cell: 510 289 9246
BCSB:      http://bcsb.als.lbl.gov
PHENIX:   http://www.phenix-online.org
SASTBX:  http://sastbx.als.lbl.gov
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