Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction

Contact Nicholas R. Silvaggi
E-mail silvaggi@uwm.edu
Room CHM 272B
Phone (414) 229-2647

A state-of-the-art X-ray diffractometer is available to support chemistry and biochemistry research by providing a means to determine the 3-dimensional structures of proteins and organic compounds. The instrument is housed in the laboratory of Dr. Martin St. Maurice of the Department of Biology at Marquette University. The hardware consists of a Rigaku MicroMax-007HF microfocus rotating anode X-ray generator equipped with VariMax HF optics and a Saturn 944+ CCD detector. An Oxford CryoStream unit allows data collection at cryogenic temperatures (100 K). This system couples an extremely intense X-ray source with a sensitive and rapid CCD detector, making it ideal for data collection from small, weakly-diffracting crystals, or those with large unit cells (i.e. crystals of biological macromolecules). All instrument control and data collection software is present on site, as well as on workstations for off-line data processing and model building. Access to the instrument is scheduled via a web-based calendar visible to all users.