research advances
January 2009 news
PSI in the Spotlight – February 2009
PSI-SGKB [doi:10.1038/nw_psisgkb.2009.5]
This column presents announcements and other notable news related to the Protein Structure Initiative.
It's in the CrystalCards™ at the MPCS User Facility
The PSI ATCG3D, in collaboration with deCODE biostructures and Emerald BioSystems, has opened a new User Facility where researchers can try out the Microcapillary Protein Crystallization System™ (MPCS), a new nanovolume crystal-screening technology. Scientists visiting the Advanced Photon Source to collect X-ray diffraction data are invited to the MPCS User Facility at deCODE's Woodridge, IL, laboratories, located 5 miles from the Argonne National Laboratories, where they can “test drive” this crystallization technique with their own protein samples. Using only 4 micro liters of protein sample, each CrystalCard™ holds up to 800 individual approximately 20 nanoliters crystallization experiments. Crystals suitable for diffraction study can be harvested directly from the device using standard mounting techniques or data can be collected in situ at X-ray beamlines equipped with in-line crystal-viewing optics (such as APS GM/CA CAT 23 B).
Interested researchers can make an appointment to visit the MPCS User Facility [directions] via the Emerald BioSystems website. The only cost to the user is for the CrystalCard consumables used to screen protein samples. For further information, please contact Cory Gerdts. [mailto: Email: cgerdts@emeraldbiosystems.com]
Second announcement: The 2009 NIGMS Workshop, 4–6 March 2009, Bethesda, MD.
The PSI and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) again invite all members of the structural biology community to attend their annual workshop, 'The 2009 NIGMS Workshop - Enabling Technologies for Structural Biology', to be held 4–6 March 2009 at the NIH Natcher Conference Center in Bethesda, MD. This 2½ day workshop focuses on the technical challenges of protein structure determination and presents the latest technological and methodological innovations.
The preliminary program includes keynote presentations by Michael Rossmann and Frank Raushel; and six topical sessions entitled “Protein–protein interactions and complexes”, “Technologies for functional studies”, “Homology modeling for experimentalists”, “Problems and solutions”, “New and improved technologies”, “Combined approaches”; and a poster session to share the latest research advances.
The last day to register for this free workshop is 20 February 2009. For further information regarding the 2009 NIGMS Workshop, online registration, or abstract submission, visit http://www.blsmeetings.net/2009workshop_enablingtechnologies. For additional inquiries, contact Dr Charles Edmonds [mailto: Email: edmondsc@nigms.nih.gov].
Coming to a conference near you
Want to learn more about the PSI-Nature Structural Genomics Knowledgebase? Representatives will be available at these upcoming conferences and workshops to answer your questions and give demonstrations of how to use the PSI SGKB.
January 25-30 2009
Keystone Symposium: Omics meets Cell Biology
Breckenridge, CO
February 22-25 2009
US Human Proteome Organization (HUPO)
San Diego, CA
February 28-March 4 2009
Annual Biophysical Society Meeting
Boston, MA
March 4-6 2009
2009 NIGMS Workshop: Enabling Technologies for Structural Biology
Bethesda, MD
