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Review
. 2025 May 1;32(Pt 3):577-594.
doi: 10.1107/S1600577525002012. Epub 2025 Apr 14.

Current and future perspectives for structural biology at the Grenoble EPN campus: a comprehensive overview

Andrew A McCarthy  1 , Shibom Basu  1 , Florent Bernaudat  2 , Matthew P Blakeley  3 , Matthew W Bowler  1 , Philippe Carpentier  2 , Gregory Effantin  4 , Sylvain Engilberge  4 , David Flot  2 , Frank Gabel  3 , Lukas Gajdos  3 , Jos J A G Kamps  2 , Eaazhisai Kandiah  2 , Romain Linares  1 , Anne Martel  3 , Igor Melnikov  2 , Estelle Mossou  2 , Christoph Mueller-Dieckmann  2 , Max Nanao  2 , Didier Nurizzo  2 , Petra Pernot  2 , Alexander Popov  2 , Antoine Royant  2 , Daniele de Sanctis  2 , Guy Schoehn  4 , Romain Talon  2 , Mark D Tully  2 , Montserrat Soler-Lopez  2
Affiliations
Review

Current and future perspectives for structural biology at the Grenoble EPN campus: a comprehensive overview

Andrew A McCarthy et al. J Synchrotron Radiat. .

Abstract

The European Photon and Neutron campus in Grenoble is a unique site, encompassing the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility Extremely Brilliant Source, the Institut Laue-Langevin, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the Institut de Biologie Structurale. Here, we present an overview of the structural biology beamlines, instruments and support facilities available on the EPN campus. These include advanced macromolecular crystallography using neutrons or X-rays, small-angle X-ray or neutron scattering, cryogenic electron microscopy, and spectroscopy. These highly complementary experimental approaches support cutting-edge research for integrated structural biology in our large user community. This article emphasizes our significant contributions to the field, outlines current advancements made and provides insights into our future prospects, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the EPN campus's role in advancing integrated structural biology research.

Keywords: Grenoble EPN campus; fourth-generation synchrotrons; macromolecular crystallography; structural biology.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Aerial view of the Grenoble EPN campus, highlighting the PSB partners: EMBL, ESRF, IBS and ILL. ILL instruments and ESRF beamlines and facilities are indicated. The ILL D-Lab and the ESRF Structural Biology laboratory are in the CIBB building as part of the PSB partnership. Photograph courtesy of Denis Morel.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Workflow of the SOS pipeline for ESRF users at CM01: the pipeline, designed for users without regular access to a vitrification platform or screening microscope, follows the above structured approach at CM01, the cryo-EM beamline at ESRF. The workflow consists of five steps for liquid samples, beginning with negative-stain EM as a quality control step, and three steps for vitrified grids, starting directly with grid screening. Successful negative-stain EM leads to vitrification trials, followed by iterative cryo-EM grid screening to determine suitability for Krios data collection. Step 4 is currently performed by the user.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Automated MX pipeline for crystal mounting to structure envisaged at MASSIF-1 using the micro-diffractometer (MD2S), Flex sample changer with high-capacity dewar (FlexHCD) and automated crystal-harvesting robot, beginning with high-throughput crystallization available through CRIMS at the HTX platform at EMBL. Crystal characterization, data collection, data processing and structure determination are fully automatic using the MXCuBE-Web frontend and ISPyB-DRAC backend software tools. Structure gallery from MASSIF-1, retrieved and reproduced with permission from BioSync (https://biosync.rcsb.org/) (Kuller et al., 2002 ▸).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Synergic use of the ESRF MX beamlines and associated facilities in the favourable case when optical spectroscopic data can be accumulated on a crystalline protein containing a coloured cofactor, substrate or product. Crystallographic and spectroscopic data can be recorded at equilibrium at cryogenic (blue area) or ambient temperature (red area). Time-resolved (out of equilibrium) data recorded at room temperature are represented in green. Depending on the beamline or facility, crystals can be single ones (MX) or microcrystals (SSX).
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