Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

We request a Rigaku MicroMax-003 Microfocus X-ray generation system that will be a great resource to a broad range of biochemistry laboratories at SFU. This new instrument will replace the no-longer functional rotating-anode X-ray generator that resides in the SFU Macromolecular Diffraction Facility. We will be using this instrument to: perform diffraction experiments on protein crystals of antibiotic and antiviral targets (Paetzel, Craig, Guttman, and Lowenberger Labs); investigate the structure of nucleic acids and ribozymes (Unrau Lab); determine the structure of membrane bound receptors and enzymes (Young and Cornell Labs) and solve the structures of protein complexes involved in apoptosis and cancer (Pio Lab). In addition, many other research labs in various Departments at SFU will have access to the instrument (MBB, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and the Faculty of Health Sciences) under the supervision and training of experienced crystallographers. The stability, robustness and low-maintenance of this X-ray generator will assure that investigators at SFU have regular access to X-ray beam time for diffraction data set collection as well as for testing their macromolecular crystals for further high-resolution data collection at synchrotron facilities. This new instrument will be a great benefit to laboratories at SFU and will play an important role in the development of new antibiotics, antiviral drugs, medications and treatments for congenital heart disease, cancer and many other diseases, as well as facilitating the development of real time biological tracking methodologies and nanotechnology devices. Our research fields, and Canada in general, will benefit from the acquisition of this instrument and will contribute greatly to the detailed understanding of the structure of a large number of medically and scientifically important biological macromolecules.