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. 2025 Jul 1;32(Pt 4):873-883.
doi: 10.1107/S1600577525003194. Epub 2025 Jun 26.

Structural biology at the National Synchrotron Light Source II

J Aishima  1 , B Andi  1 , L Berman  1 , J Byrnes  1 , S Chodankar  1 , E Farquhar  2 , M R Fuchs  1 , J Jakoncic  1 , D Kreitler  1 , E Lazo  1 , S Myers  1 , K Qian  1 , R Schaffer  1 , V Shekar  1 , W Shi  1 , A Soares  1 , V Stojanoff  1 , R M Sweet  1 , L Yang  1 , S McSweeney  1
Affiliations

Structural biology at the National Synchrotron Light Source II

J Aishima et al. J Synchrotron Radiat. .

Abstract

The structural biology program at the National Synchrotron Light Source II presents a coordinated set of instruments, software and research opportunities for the interested user. We describe in some detail the research capabilities enabled by the Center for BioMolecular Structure. The evolution of the resources is described in detail, considering three major themes: automation, micro-focusing and computation prediction.

Keywords: National Synchrotron Light Source II; research resources; structural biology; synchrotron beamlines.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Symbolic map of NSLS-II showing the locations of the structural biology beamlines that form the CBMS (LiX, AMX, FMX, XFP), along with the partner beamline NYX. Laboratories to support the scientific programs on the beamlines are conveniently located in building 745.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) FMX and AMX beamline layout (not to scale). AMX is served by the upstream (17-ID-1) IVU21 undulator, FMX by the downstream (17-ID-2) one. Beam and labels of AMX are red, those of FMX are blue. All distances are given with respect to the FMX source position. (b) Top-down plan view of the beamline layout on the NSLS-II experimental floor. The white-beam path to the monochromators is contained in the 17-ID-A lead hutches, followed by the AMX experimental hutch 17-ID-B and the FMX experimental hutch 17-ID-C. Figure taken from Schneider et al. (2021 ▸).
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Annual tallys of the number of samples mounted at AMX (cyan, round points) and FMX (dark blue, squares) beamlines. (b) Depositions in the Protein Data Bank per year (same color scheme).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(Left) Chip scanner with a loaded Oxford Photochip (1) on the FMX secondary goniometer (2) for serial data collection at room temperature. The switch to the main goniometer (3) takes 15 min. (Right) ChipSight GUI for data collection with the 25600 well photochip. The microscope image shows the chip’s fiducial marks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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