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Makarov, Oleg

Publications and source records attributed to Makarov, Oleg.

8 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Fast automated energy changes at synchrotron radiation beamlines equipped with transfocator or focusing mirrors

Algorithms and procedures to fully automate retuning of synchrotron radiation beamlines over wide energy ranges are discussed. The discussion is based on the implementation at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Cancer Institute Structural Biology Facility at the Advanced Photon Source. When a user selects a new beamline energy, software synchronously controls the beamline monochromator and undulator to maintain the X-ray beam flux after the monochromator, preserves beam attenuation by determining a new set of attenuator foils, changes, as needed, mirror reflecting stripes and the undulator harmonic, preserves beam focal distance of compound refractive lens focusing by changing the In/Out combination of lenses in the transfocator, and, finally, restores beam position at the sample by on-the-fly scanning of either the Kirkpatrick–Baez mirror angles or the transfocator up/down and inboard/outboard positions. The sample is protected from radiation damage by automatically moving it out of the beam during the energy change and optimization.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

High-throughput in situ X-ray screening of and data collection from protein crystals at room temperature and under cryogenic conditions

Protein crystallography has significantly advanced in recent years, with in situ data collection, in which crystals are placed in the X-ray beam within their growth medium, being a major point of focus. In situ methods eliminate the need to harvest crystals, a previously unavoidable drawback, particularly for often small membrane-protein crystals. Here, we present a protocol for the high-throughput in situ X-ray screening of and data collection from soluble and membrane-protein crystals at room temperature (20-25 degrees C) and under cryogenic conditions. The Mylar in situ method uses Mylar-based film sandwich plates that are inexpensive, easy to make, and compatible with automated imaging, and that show very low background scattering. They support crystallization in microbatch and vapor-diffusion modes, as well as in lipidic cubic phases (LCPs). A set of 3D-printed holders for differently sized patches of Mylar sandwich films makes the method robust and versatile, allows for storage and shipping of crystals, and enables automated mounting at synchrotrons, as well as goniometer-based screening and data collection. The protocol covers preparation of in situ plates and setup of crystallization trials; 3D printing and assembly of holders; opening of plates, isolation of film patches containing crystals, and loading them onto holders; basic screening and data-collection guidelines; and unloading of holders, as well as reuse and recycling of them. In situ plates are prepared and assembled in 1 h; holders are 3D-printed and assembled in <= 90 min; and an in situ plate is opened, and a film patch containing crystals is isolated and loaded onto a holder in 5 min.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Integrated nonlinear optical imaging microscope for on-axis crystal detection and centering at a synchrotron beamline

Nonlinear optical (NLO) instrumentation has been integrated with synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) for combined single-platform analysis, initially targeting applications for automated crystal centering. Second-harmonic-generation microscopy and two-photon-excited ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy were evaluated for crystal detection and assessed by X-ray raster scanning. Two optical designs were constructed and characterized; one positioned downstream of the sample and one integrated into the upstream optical path of the diffractometer. Both instruments enabled protein crystal identification with integration times between 80 and 150 µs per pixel, representing a ~10 3 –10 4 -fold reduction in the per-pixel exposure time relative to X-ray raster scanning. Quantitative centering and analysis of phenylalanine hydroxylase from Chromobacterium violaceum cPAH, Trichinella spiralis deubiquitinating enzyme TsUCH37, human κ-opioid receptor complex kOR-T4L produced in lipidic cubic phase (LCP), intimin prepared in LCP, and α-cellulose samples were performed by collecting multiple NLO images. The crystalline samples were characterized by single-crystal diffraction patterns, while α-cellulose was characterized by fiber diffraction. Good agreement was observed between the sample positions identified by NLO and XRD raster measurements for all samples studied.

bio-inspired↗
DOE OSTI2012

Pin base sensor for high-throughput macromolecular crystallography

Sensing methods and a compact, sample holding pin base sensor are provided for detecting if a sample pin is, for example, properly mounted on a goniometer used for automated, high throughput macromolecular crystallography. A first magnet is used for holding a magnetic base; a second magnet is disposed spaced apart from the first magnet. The first magnet and the second magnet have opposite orientation. A Hall-effect switch is located generally centrally between the first magnet and the second magnet. A state of the Hall-effect switch indicates if a sample pin is properly mounted on a mounting member, such as a goniometer.

Makarov, Oleg↗
DOE OSTI2010

Micro-Crystallography Developments at GM/CA-CAT at the APS

Recently, several important structures have been solved using micro-crystallographic techniques that previously could not have been solved with conventional crystallography. At GM/CA-CAT we continue to develop micro-crystallographic capabilities for difficult problems such as small crystals of large macromolecular complexes or membrane proteins grown in the lipidic cubic phase. This paper will describe three major upgrades to our arsenal of tools, 'mini-beam' collimators, active beamstop, and an improved goniostat. Our 'mini-beam' collimators have evolved to a new triple-collimator fabricated from molybdenum as a uni-body. This has significantly improved the robustness, ease of initial alignment, and reduction of background. More recently, two prototypes of a quad-collimator have been developed and fabricated to provide a selection of mini-beams of 5, 10, 20 {mu}m and a 300 {mu}m scatter-guard on a single body. The smaller beams and samples have increased the demand on the tolerances of our goniostat. To meet these challenges we have designed and implemented a goniostat with a 1-micron peak-to-peak sphere of confusion. This is a significant improvement over the previous 6 micron sphere of confusion of the commercially available air-bearing and XY stages. Finally, an 'active beamstop' has been constructed. This will provide non-invasive, real time feedback at the sample during data collection.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2010

JBlulce Data Acquisition Software for Macromolecular Crystallography

JBlulce (Java Beam Line Universal Integrated Configuration Environment is a data acquisition software for macromolecular crystallography conforming user interface of the SSRL Blulce that has become a de-factor standard in the field. Besides this interface conformity, JBlulce is a unique system in terms of architecture, spec, capability and software implementation. It features only two software layers, the JBlulce clients and the EPICS servers, as compared to three layers present in Blulce and most of similar systems. This layers reduction provides a faster communication with hardware and an easier access to advanced hardware capabilities like on-the-fly scanning. Then JBlulce clients are designed to operate in parallel with the other beamline controls which streamlines the tasks performed by staff such as beamline preparation, maintenance, auditing and user assistance. Another distinction is the deployment of multiple plugins that can be written in any programming language thus involving more staff into the development. further on, JBlulce makes use of unified motion controls allowing for easy scanning and optimizing of any beamline component. Finally, the graphic interface is implemented in Java making full use of rich Java libraries and Jave IDE for debugging. to compare, Blulce user interface is implemented with aging Tcl/tk language providing very restricted capabilities. JBlulce makes full use of the industrial power and wide drivers selection of EPICS in controlling hardware; all hardware communication is routed via multiple EPICS servers residing on local area network. JBlulce also includes several EPICS State Notation servers aimed at making hardware communication more robust. Besides using EPICS for controlling hardware, JBlulce extensively uses EPICS databases for efficient communications between multiple instances of JBlulce clients and JBlulce plugins that can run in parallel on different computers. All of the above makes JBlulce one of the biggest and most sophisticated EPICS client projects to date. JBlulce configuration is stored in my SQL database which provides flexibility in tuning the system. The database is also accessible by the plugins. From the users perspective JBlulce provides all standard features of data acquisition software for macromolecular crystallography plus such unique capabilities as one click beamline energy change that may involve switching undulator harmonics, mirrors lanes and beam realignment, automated diffraction rtastering for finding small crystals and sweet spots on poorly diffracting crystals with automated scoring of raster cells by the number of reflections; data collection along a vector; automated on-the-fly fluorescent tastering, a faster and lower-irradiation compliment to the diffraction raster; fully automated fluorescence measurements for MAD that include signal optimization, fast on the fly energy scanning and automated adapting of scan range to chemical shifts; fly-scan minibeam realignment; automated loop and crystal centering, controls for sample automounter, automated screening, data collection auditing, remote access and a lot more.

Stepanov, Sergey↗