Research Focus

The Structure Dynamics in Biology (SDB) Resource focuses on developing and supporting technologies to support biomedical and structural biology research along 3 main themes:

• Structure Determination of Multi-protein Complexes and Membrane Proteins
• Accurate Active Site Structures of Macromolecular Machines
• Observing Macromolecular Dynamics

Maximizing Experimental Throughput

Beam time at X-ray FELs is generally limited by the small number of simultaneous X-ray sources afforded by the linear configuration of an X-ray FEL facility. Compared to synchrotron facilities, which can house dozens of beamlines, each operating simultaneously, X-ray FELs typically have fewer than five experiments that can run simultaneously.

In the case of LCLS, the only X-ray FEL facility in the United States, only two X-ray sources can feed experiments at a given time. Further optical beam sharing possibilities can deliver X-rays to a 3rd or 4th X-ray experiment at the most. The sparsity of beam time makes it imperative to maximize scientific delivery efficiency at LCLS.

As efficient use of the LCLS resource is paramount to providing access to as many experiments as possible, the developments of the Resource also aim to ensure that LCLS beam time applied to biomedical problems is used as effectively as possible. To ensure that their samples and experimental setups are well-characterized and optimized prior to LCLS beam time, we will support users utilizing offline laboratory resources and, when appropriate, SSRL capabilities.

The ease of use, reliability, and throughput of existing sample delivery technologies and features to make full use of the LCLS source will be expanded and improved. Automated methods will also be developed to reduce the cycle time between runs and the amount of beam time required for sample screening, structure solution, and TR experiments, including new real-time data analysis and feedback automation.