MX Beamline

"The Macromolecular Crystallography (MX) group at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) is operating three state-of-the-art synchrotron beamlines for MX at BESSY II in Berlin (Heinemann et al., 2003; Mueller et al., 2012, 2015). The radiation source for all three beamlines BL14.1-3 is a superconducting 7T-wavelength shifter. Currently, the three beam lines are the most productive stations for MX in Germany, with about 250 PDB depositions per year and over 1500 PDB depositions in total (Status 10/2015). BL14.1 and BL14.2 are energy tuneable in the range 5.5-15.5 keV, while beam line BL14.3 is a fixed-energy side station operated at 13.8 keV. The HZB-MX beamlines are in regular user operation providing close to 200 beam days per year and about 600 user shifts to approximately 100 research groups across Europe. Additional user facilities include office space adjacent to the beam lines, a sample preparation laboratory, a biology laboratory (safety level 1) and high-end computing resources." http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-64

For more details and current status contact the beamline scientist(s).

BL14.1 is a tuneable energy beamline for macromolecular crystallography. This beamline has a high level of automation and can perform X-ray diffraction experiments of very small crystals up to 15 micrometers.

BL14.1 supports the following experimental techniques:

• De novo structure solution using MAD, SAD 
• High throuput screening
• Long wavelength phasing
• UV radiation damage phasing

BL14.2 is currently being upgraded to become a beamline dedicated to highly automated fragment-screening experiments.

BL14.3 is a fixed energy beamline for macromolecular crystallography. This beamline has special equipment to perform X-ray diffraction experiments under controlled variation of crystal hydration.

BL14.3 supports the following experimental techniques:

• De novo structure solution using SAD
• Crystal screening
• High resolution diffraction experiments
• Controlled crystal dehydration using the HC1c-device

Macromolecular Crystallography Station

Experimental station BL14.1

The experimental station 14.1 is installed at the tuneable energy beamline for macromolecular crystallography. This station has a high level of automation and can perform X-ray diffraction experiments of very small crystals up to 15 micrometers.

The station 14.1 supports the following experimental techniques:

• De novo structure solution using MAD, SAD 
• High throuput screening
• Long wavelength phasing
• UV radiation damage phasing

Experimental station BL14.2

The experimental 14.2 station is installed at the tuneable energy beamline BL14.2 for macromolecular crystallography. This station is currently being upgraded to support highly automated fragment-screening experiments.

Experimental station BL14.3

The experimental station 14.3 is installed at the fixed energy beamline BL14.3 for macromolecular crystallography. This station has special equipment to perform X-ray diffraction experiments under controlled variation of crystal hydration.

The station 14.3 supports the following experimental techniques:

• De novo structure solution using SAD
• Crystal screening
• High resolution diffraction experiments
• Controlled crystal dehydration using the HC1c-device