Macromolecular Crystallography (MX)
The Diamond MX village currently comprises five state-of-the-art undulator beamlines - three high brilliance MAD beamlines (I02, I03, I04), a fixed wavelength beamline (I04-1) and a microfocus MAD beamline (I24). We offer a wide range of facilities and capabilities including microbeams, in situ (in-plate) screening and data collection, sample humidity control, UV-Vis spectroscopy and data collection from pathogenic samples.
- fast sample changers accepting SPINE standard pins in Unipucks
- fully automated data analysis (Xia2, DIMPLE, FastDP, FastEP, MrBUMP)
- state-of-the-art Pilatus Pixel Array Detectors
Specialised high flux microfocus beams for microcrystal data collection or the illumination of subvolumes of larger inhomogeneous crystals.
In situ data collection and sample characterization directly from crystals in their crystallization plates.
Control of the sample crystal's relative humidity with the aim of improving diffraction quality through improved packing of protein molecules constituting the lattice.
On-line and off-line UV-Vis spectroscopy of macromolecular samples to study enzyme reaction mechanisms and radiation damage.
Crystal reorientation to optimize data collection strategies for anomalous diffraction data collection and low symmetry spacegroups, or very long axis unit cells.
High throughput and highly automated beamline for optimised MAD and SAD experiments.
Beamsize: 90 x 20
Wavelength: 0.5Å - 2.5Å
Detector: Pilatus 6M-F
High throughput and highly automated beamline for optimised MAD and SAD experiments. Capable of accepting CL3 type experiments on crystals of pathogens.
Beamsize: variable
Wavelength: 0.5Å - 2.5Å
Detector: Pilatus 6M-F
High throughput and highly automated beamline for optimised MAD and SAD experiments. Currently offering a microfocus option at wavelengths close to Se and Fe absorption edges.
Beamsize: 8x2 - 200x200
Wavelength: 0.73Å - 1.91Å
Detector: ADSC Q315r
High throughput and highly automated fixed wavelength SAD beamline for macromolecular crystallography.
Beamsize: 60 x 50
Wavelength: 0.92Å (fixed)
Detector: Pilatus 2M
High throughput variable microfocus beamline for optimised MAD and SAD experiments on crystals down a few microns in size.
Beamsize: 5x5 - 50x40 (variable aspect ratio)
Wavelength: 0.62Å - 1.77Å
Detector: Pilatus 6M-F
| Beamline | I02 | I03 | I04 | I04-1 | I23 | I24 |
| Wavelength range (Å) | 0.5 - 2.5 | 0.59 - 2.3 | 0.62 - 2.25 | 0.92 (fixed) | 0.62 - 1.77 | |
| Energy range (keV) | 5.0 - 25.0 | 5.2 - 21.0 | 5.5 - 20.0 | 13.5 (fixed) | 7.0 - 20.0 | |
| Default settings (Å/keV) | 0.98 / 12.66 | 0.98 / 12.7 | 0.98 / 12.66 | 0.92 / 13.53 | 0.97 / 12.8 | |
| Flux (ph/s) in full beam at default energy at 300 mA | 4.0 x 1012 | 2.5 x 1012 | 4 x 1012 | 2.5 x 1011 | 1.4 x 1012 | |
| Default beamsize (µm) | 80 x 15 | 80 x 20 | 90 x 45 | 60 x 50 | 8 x 8 | |
| Full beam size at sample (µm) | 80 x 15 / 85 x 44 / 48 x 18
| 80 x 20 90 x 30 100 x100 55 x 10 | 60 x 50 | 8 x 8 --> 50 x 40 5 x 5 (with 1011 ph/s) | ||
| Available apertures (µm) | 10,20 and 200 | 20, 50, 100 (cryo) 10, 30, 100 (in-situ) | 10,20, and 200 | 10, 20, 30, 50 and 70 | ||
| Detectors (Pilatus type) | P6M-F (25 Hz) | P6M-F (25 Hz) | P6M-F (25 Hz) | P2M (30Hz) | Custom P12M
| P3-6M (100 Hz) |
| Number of unipucks / SPINE pins | 10 / 160 | 10 / 160 | 10 / 160 | 9 / 144 | 9 / 144 | |
| Maximum samples / hour | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | |
| Typical samples / hour | 15 - 20 | 15 - 20 | 15 - 20 | 15 - 20 | 15 - 20 |
The new MX Village web page is launched!
I24 has a new floor in the experiment hutch and beyond.
The crystal washer is ready for use in I02.
I04-1 will be operating with fast gripper in run 5 - expect sample changes in around 37 seconds.