ayout 1 - EMBL Grenoble

EMBL Hamburg
Instrumentation for synchrotron beamlines for
structural biology at PETRA III
Previous and current research
EMBL will design, build and operate three beamlines for structural biology at the PETRA III synchrotron
radiation source, currently under construction on the DESY campus. The EMBL facilities
will be dedicated to the leading techniques for X-ray-based structural research of biological samples:
small angle X-ray scattering (BioSAXS beamline) and macromolecular crystallography (MX1
and MX2 beamlines). The construction of these facilities includes the provision of X-ray optical elements,
experimental endstations, vacuum system, control system, data acquisition system, technical
infrastructure and parts of the civil engineering, and our team provides expertise in X-ray
optics, precision mechanical engineering, robotics, control software and electronics.
In 2008, several projects for the principal optical elements at the new PETRA III beamlines have
been launched. In particular, the design phase of the high-heatload monochromators and cooling
systems has started, in collaboration with an external company (FMB OXFORD) and HASYLAB.
In this and most of the other projects, our work focusses on the selection, customisation and integration
of mechanics, control electronics and control software. In addition, our activity spectrum ranges from the development of instruments
from scratch to the performance of relevant validation experiments and commissioning of instrumentation for user experiments. An
example of this is the construction of a focussing double multilayer monochromator (MLM) for the existing BW7A beamline (at the DORIS
storage ring) which serves as test platform for developments for the PETRA III beamlines (see also Hermes group, page 100). Very high resolution
structure refinements and first ab initio structure solution have been possible with the
data collected on the new instrument which is now in user operation.
The main development project in 2008 was the construction of a completely updated version of
a robotic sample mounting system for macromolecular crystals, MARVIN (see figure), characterised
by increased capacity, higher sample mounting speed, improved geometry and maintainability
with respect to the previous design.
As a side project, a new high precision goniometer axis with sub-micrometer precision has been
developed. These elements are now integrated into a software-based modern control system which
allows for a heterogeneous control environment and provides distributed access and monitoring.
This is a prerequisite for the planned remote-controlled user experiments at PETRA III.
Future projects and goals
In the next year our efforts will concentrate on:
• installation and commissioning of the new beamline elements;
• integration of control hardware and software into a generic control architecture;
• further automation of alignment, sample handling and data acquisition;
• rapid feedback on positional and intensity variations of the incident beam;
• follow-up or start of a limited number of selected instrumental development projects (e.g. robotic sample changer for MX, beam
separation optics, beam conditioning unit);
• continuation of our investigations in MX with multilayer radiation.
Stefan Fiedler
PhD 1997, Johann-Wolfgang-
Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt.
Postdoctoral fellow then Staff
Scientist at ESRF, Grenoble.
At EMBL Hamburg since 200.
Team leader since 2006.
Schematical design of experimental
endstation for MX with sample
mounting system MARVIN.
In the longer term, time-resolved structural biology studies down to the microsecond will be performed on the new beamlines. We plan to
develop the instruments and the level of synchronisation that are necessary for these kinds of experiments. Furthermore, we will also explore
the possibilities and experimental requirements for biological imaging research at PETRA III.
Selected references
Fernandez, M., Suhonen, H., Keyrilainen, J., Bravin, A., Fiedler, S.,
Karjalainen-Lindsberg, M.L., Leidenius, M., von Smitten, K. & Suortti,
P. (2008). USAXS and SAXS from cancer-bearing breast tissue
samples. Eur. J. Radiol., 68, S89-9
Keyrilainen, J., Fernandez, M., Karjalainen-Lindsberg, M.L.,
Virkkunen, P., Leidenius, M., von Smitten, K., Sipila, P., Fiedler, S.,
Suhonen, H., Suortti, P. & Bravin, A. (2008). Toward high-contrast
breast CT at low radiation dose. Radiology, 29, 321-7
Kelly, M.E.B., Schültke, E., Fiedler, S., Nemoz, C., Guzmann, R. et al.
(2007). Synchrotron-based intravenous cerebral angiography in a
small animal model. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 52, 1001-1012
Roessle, M.W., Klaering, R., Ristau, U., Robrahn, B., Jahn, D. et al.
(2007). Upgrade of the small-angle X-ray scattering beamline X33 at
the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg. Journal of
Applied Crystallography, 0, S190-S19
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