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SSRL Headlines Vol. 4, No. 2 August, 2003
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Contents of this Issue:
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1. Science Highlight — Protecting
against Cocaine, Heroin, and Sarin Gas
(contact: Matthew Redinbo, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill)
SSRL has played an important role in characterizing a family of enzymes that
detoxify heroin and cocaine, and have the potential to metabolically eliminate
the nerve poisons sarin, soman, and tabun, which have claimed thousands of
lives. Using x-ray crystallographic data, the Redinbo group at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has uncovered the specific and general ways
the carboxylesterase enzymes bind to those dangerous substances. This new
understanding of the structure-function relationships will be of very
significant value in designing drugs to combat overdoses, terrorist attacks and
chemical warfare. Redinbo's group is working on developing more specific and
faster versions of the human form of the enzyme (hCE1) to inject into people
who have overdosed on heroin and cocaine and into soldiers potentially facing
nerve gas attacks.
Carboxylesterases in mammals are responsible for breaking down a wide variety
of human-made drugs and foreign chemicals, and may have evolved to safely
process the chemicals many plants use to protect themselves. The first
crystallographic study of hCE1 bound to cocaine- and heroin-like compounds
revealed important molecular details about how the drugs are metabolized and
how the enzyme can recognize such structurally diverse compounds. Redinbo's
group found that the hCE1 active site contains both a specific compartment
(that binds with specific features of a compound, the way Lego pieces fit
together), and a promiscuous compartment (that can bind with many shapes, the
way gum sticks to many surfaces). These features enable the enzyme to act on
structurally distinct chemicals like dangerous narcotics and weaponized nerve
agents.
For more information on this work see:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/research/highlights_archive/hcel.html
or http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/research/highlights_archive/hce1.pdf
2. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Catches the
Chemical Form of Mercury in Fish -
SSRL Scientists Reveal New Findings in Science Article
(contact: Graham George)
The presence of "methyl mercury" in fish is well-known, but until now the
detailed chemical identity of the mercury has remained a mystery. In an x-ray
absorption spectroscopy study published in the August 29 issue of Science
(Science 301, 2003:
1203;
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2003/828/3), SSRL
scientists
report that the chemical form of mercury involves a sulfur atom (most likely in
a so-called aliphatic form). The study presents significant new knowledge -
because the toxic properties of mercury (or any element) are critically
dependent upon its chemical form - and represents an important milestone in
developing an understanding of how harmful mercury in fish might actually be.
The study was carried out by SSRL staff scientists Ingrid Pickering and Graham
George and postdoctoral fellow Hugh Harris using SSRL's structural molecular
biology beam line 9-3. The very high flux, excellent beam stability and
state-of-the-art detector technology allowed the team to measure samples of
fish containing micromolar levels of mercury, much lower than had previously
been possible. Funding for this research was provided by the U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of Biological and Environmental Research and by the NIH
National Center for Research Resources, Biomedical Technology Program. (Ingrid
Pickering and Graham George have recently relocated to the University of
Saskatchewan and Hugh Harris to the University of Sydney).
3. Final Phase of the SPEAR3 Installation on
Schedule
(contact: Tom Elioff)
The final installation phase of the SPEAR3 project continues on schedule --
only 2 months remain for planned project completion. The final magnet/vacuum
raft assembly was installed on August 27 at 15:30, completing the magnetic
lattice for SPEAR3. Due to the hard work of many staff and external contract
workers, the 54 raft assemblies (weighing more then 1,250,000 lbs) were
successfully rolled into SPEAR and placed onto precision pins over a period of
only 13 working days beginning August 11. In addition, the majority of the
new power supplies have been tested and installed, the new beam line front-ends
are in place (except for BL10), the RF klystron power supply, loads, and
waveguides are installed, all 4 new RF cavities have been received and
checked-out, the bellows and vacuum straight section components are nearing
completion, and injection system components are complete. Remaining work in
the coming months includes final low conductivity water (LCW) connections to
the magnet rafts, LCW piping and connection to the RF system, AC power
connections to power supplies, DC connections to power supplies and to magnet
rafts in the tunnel, Klystron installation and check-out, RF cavity
installation in the ring and installation and testing of remaining
instrumentation and control system components. The work should be complete and
the ring closed down by early November at which time accelerator and vacuum
commissioning will commence. Those interested can view time lapsed video clips
of the SPEAR3 installation process by visiting the SSRL home page at: http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/
and clicking on the video links. SPEAR3 is
indeed on schedule to begin to deliver its significant benefits to users in
early 2004.
4. Registration Extended for SSRL SMB Summer
School
(contacts: Hiro Tsuruta; Serena George; Ana Gonzalez)
The application deadline for the lecture portion only of SSRL's 2003 Structural
Molecular Biology Summer School has been extended until September 3. This
track 1 of the Summer School, which will be held September 16-17, will include
presentations from experts aimed at the graduate student level, but will also
be appropriate for more experienced researchers entering the field. Sessions
will focus on the use and applications of three synchrotron x-ray techniques in
studying biological systems including: small angle x-ray scattering, x-ray
absorption spectroscopy, and macromolecular crystallography. For more
information visit the website:
http://smb.slac.stanford.
edu/SR-School/SMB2003/
5. Call for Nominations for 6th Annual Lytle
Award
(contact: Cathy Knotts)
Users are encouraged to submit nominations for the 2003 Farrel W. Lytle Award,
which consists of a $1,000 award and a plaque that is displayed in the User
Research Administration Office at SSRL. This award was established by the SSRL
Users' Organization Executive Committee (SSRLUO-EC) to promote technical or
scientific accomplishments in synchrotron radiation-based science and to foster
collaboration and efficient use of beam time among users and staff at SSRL.
Previous awardees include: Farrel W. Lytle, Tom Hostetler, Roger Prince, Britt
Hedman, and Paul Phizackerley. Nominations should be sent to Cathy Knotts,
SSRL User Research Administration Manager, by September 8, 2003.
6. Nominations for the SSRLUO-EC
(contact: Cathy Knotts)
The September 15 deadline for nominating SSRL users for the 2004 Users'
Organization Executive Committee is fast approaching. Nominations are needed
for vacant positions in materials/chemistry, environmental/geosciences,
structural molecular biology, and macromolecular crystallography. Nominations
are also needed for a graduate student member of the committee (in any of the
disciplines listed). The final voting will be held at SSRL's Annual Users'
Meeting. http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/conferences/ssrl30/
ssrluoec_nominations.html
7. Several Workshops Planned for October 8,
2003
(contact: Cathy Knotts)
- Crystallography Beam Line Automation: Work Smarter Not Harder
(Aina Cohen, SSRL)
New technologies for high-throughput crystallography at SSRL, ALS and other
synchrotron facilities will be introduced focusing on the benefits and concerns
of general users. For more information please see the following website:
http://smb.slac.stanford.edu/public/research/automation_workshop
-
Synchrotron Techniques for Environmental Microbiology and Biogeochemistry
(John Bargar, SSRL; Scott Fendorf, Stanford University; David Shuh, LBNL)
Environmental microbiology and geomicrobiology have emerged as vibrant
scientific fields with cross-cutting research themes emphasizing the interplay
and energy flow between microbial communities, inorganic and organic
contaminants, (bio)minerals, groundwater, and other solutions. Synchrotron
(SR)-based techniques are beginning to play important roles in these research
areas because of the utility of SR methods for characterizing metal ion and
organic molecule speciation under in-situ conditions in complex environmental
materials. The purpose of this meeting is to bring together scientists from
the environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry, and synchrotron communities to
share ideas. Topics to be discussed include mechanisms of metal binding by
bacteria, microbially mediated redox cycling of metals in the environment and
their application to bioremediation, biomineral structures, compositions, and
formation mechanisms, and competitive sequestration of metals by inorganic
sinks (oxide, sulfide surfaces, solids) and bacteria. (Co-sponsored by SSRL,
ALS and the DOE (Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR)
Program). For more program information see:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/conferences/ssrl30/biogeochem_wrkshp.pdf
-
Probing Mechanical Deformation and Failure via Synchrotron X-rays
(Apurva Mehta, SSRL; Nobumichi Tamura, ALS)
This workshop will involve scientists interested in investigating mechanical
properties of materials via synchrotrons. Sessions will focus on salient
issues in mechanical deformation and failures, such as crystal plasticity
models, fatigue, crack propagation, etc. A brief survey of relevant
synchrotron methods including parallel beam geometry for mesodiffraction,
microdiffraction, and phase contrast imaging, as well as talks on actual
experiments done at synchrotrons will also be included. At the end of the day,
we plan to brainstorm future projects and developments.
-
Sub-eV Inelastic X-ray Scattering Facility with SPEAR3
(Uwe Bergmann, Anders Nilsson, SSRL)
SSRL is planning to build a dedicated facility for sub-eV inelastic x-ray
scattering in the 5-15 keV range at SPEAR3. The techniques will include
non-resonant and resonant x-ray Raman scattering, selective x-ray absorption
and x-ray emission spectroscopy. In this workshop we will discuss scientific
problems that can be addressed at this facility and the resulting beam line and
x-ray optics parameters. The topics will include the study of low Z systems
under ambient and extreme conditions and the study of 3d transition metal
compounds.
-
Recent Advances in Soft- and Hard X-ray Microscopy
(Greg Denbeaux, ALS; Gary Mitchell, Dow; Katharina Lüning, Piero Pianetta,
SSRL)
In recent years there have been many advances in scanning and full field x-ray
imaging techniques such as improved spatial resolution, more stable instruments
for spectromicroscopy and time resolved microscopy, phase contrast imaging
techniques as well as high resolution tomographic capabilities in absorption
and phase contrast. These techniques enable novel nanoscale research in
various fields of materials science, environmental science and biology. This
workshop, hosted jointly by the ALS and SSRL, is to discuss these new
capabilities and to identify the scientific direction for soft- and hard x-ray
microscopy at both light sources. Time will be given for open discussion with
feedback on possible future directions from workshop attendees. Please see the
ALS Users' Meeting website to register for this workshop: http://www-als.lbl.gov/als/usermtg/
|
8. 30th Annual SSRL Users' Meeting —
October 9-10, 2003
(contact: Cathy Knotts)
If you haven't already done so, register for SSRL's Annual Users' Meeting by
September 29 to take advantage of early registration discounts ($75 regular;
$25 students). Held on October 9-10, this meeting will focus on a variety of
synchrotron-based techniques of interest to the broad scientific community of
synchrotron users. Meeting sessions will focus on interdisciplinary
applications of small angle x-ray scattering, macromolecular crystallography,
microspectroscopy and diffraction, and surface spectroscopy. The Users'
Meeting provides a forum for the presentation and discussion of research
activities from SSRL and the synchrotron community. New data and developments
will be shared through invited talks and poster presentations. Find
registration and additional information on the meeting website:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/conferences/ssrl30/
Call for Posters and Graduate Student Poster Competition: Abstracts for the
poster session can be submitted through September 22 for inclusion in the
program material. Poster presentations will be displayed throughout the Users'
Meeting and will be highlighted during a poster session on October 9. Graduate
students are encouraged to submit posters of their work and are eligible to
compete for poster prizes. Graduate students who wish to participate in this
competition must be registered to attend the Users' Meeting, and must indicate
that they are participants in the graduate student poster competition on the
poster abstract submission form. Prizes include a monetary award and a ribbon.
Poster instructions are available on the website:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/conferences/ssrl30/abstracts.html
Special Session to Honor Iran Thomas: In tribute to the late Iran Thomas of
the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, a special session at the
Users' Meeting has been organized to honor Thomas' interest in education and
diversity. Thomas, who passed away on February 28, was a long-time director in
the Office of Basic Energy Sciences who supported and enabled the development
of new and innovative research programs, including the University of Texas El
Paso (UTEP) and SSRL Gateway program. This special session, PERSPECTIVES ON
THE UTEP-SSRL GATEWAY PROGRAM, will be held on Thursday, October 9, and will
include several presentations from students in the Gateway program.
__________________________________________________________________________
SSRL Headlines is published electronically monthly to inform SSRL users,
sponsors and other interested people about happenings at SSRL. SSRL is a
national synchrotron user facility operated by Stanford University for the
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Additional
support for
the structural biology program is provided by
the DOE
Office of Biological and Environmental Research, the NIH
National Center for Research Resources and the NIH Institute for General Medical S
ciences. Additional information about
SSRL and its operation and schedules is available from the SSRL WWW
site.
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