Image of Photosystem-II

Explore Biology at LCLS

X-ray free electron lasers such as the LCLS have been revolutionary in structural biology, allowing unique experiments on diverse biological targets. 

About Us

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Science Impact

X-ray free electron lasers have allowed us to make exciting discoveries in biology. 

Metalloproteins

Outrunning X-ray radiation damage with the use of X-ray FELs, like LCLS, enables the determination of room temperature metalloprotein structures.

An optical laser (green) exciting the iron-containing active site of the protein cytochrome c, and then an X-ray laser (white) probing the iron a few femtoseconds to picoseconds later

Membrane Proteins

Measuring X-ray diffraction from nanocrystals using X-ray FELs like LCLS allows structures of difficult-to-crystallize proteins to be determined.

Arrestin (yellow), an important type of signaling protein, while docked with rhodopsin (orange), a G protein-coupled receptor.

Photoactive Proteins

LCLS has allowed studying the active state structure of photosensitive proteins from femto- to milliseconds after photoactivation.

A protein from photosynthetic bacteria changing shape in response to light

Structural Enzymology

X-ray free electron lasers like  LCLS have become vital for studying the structural rearrangements in enzymes during biological reactions.

X-rays passing through a crystal to form an intensity pattern on a detector behind the crystal that is dominated by bright spots

Structure-Based Drug Design

Solving structures at ambient temperature with minimal radiation damage through LCLS provides more accurate information on binding pockets.

Crystallized ribosomes traveling through a capillary into the interaction region, where they are zapped with a beam of X-rays
Resources at LCLS

Work with Us

Scientists worldwide have used LCLS's unique capabilities to explore previously unreachable areas in fields like biology, generating hundreds of articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals published in journals like Science and Nature.

Become a User

The LCLS encourages scientists to submit proposals for experiments that utilize LCLS's unique capabilities.

Instruments

LCLS features seven specialized instrument hutches to conduct pioneering research and assist users with experiments.

Laboratories

Labs are available and equipped for biosample preparation and manipulation and final stage sample preparations.

Center for Structural Dynamics in Biology

LCLS partners with NIH to create the Center for Structural Dynamics in Biology to build new capabilities in drug design and enzymology that are available to all scientists.