Structural analysis  |   X-ray Diffraction
 
DESCRIPTION

The 3D structure determination of proteins using X-ray Diffraction is one of the core services of our Infrastructure. Knowledge of the 3D structure of macromolecular targets of pharmaceutical and biotechnological interest and their complexes with small molecules or other proteins may reveal the structure-function relationships that dictate their mechanism of action. Proteins participate in a plethora of metabolic pathways and controlling their interactions with their counterparts or bioactive compounds may allow the development of therapeutic interventions with significant socioeconomic impact.

Potential users: Scientists working in academic/research organizations, health sciences, hospitals, industries (pharmaceutical, food, agricultural, biofuel, paper, chemical) and SMEs.

NATIONAL HELLENIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (N.H.R.F.)
LOCATION:   Athens, Greece | http://www.eie.gr/index-en.html
RELEVANT STAFF:   Spyros Zographos , Evangelia Chrysina
SERVICE DETAILS:  

Instruct-EL hub offers integrated structural biology services using the available infrastructure at NHRF and jointly with partner research infrastructures. It operates In close cooperation with research groups at NHRF specialized in the fields of computational chemistry, organic synthesis, biology, biotechnology and medicine. The quality of the samples prior to crystallization and exposure of the crystals to X-rays may be tested by biophysical methods.

Selected structural analysis services: X-ray diffraction data collection from protein crystals; Preliminary characterization of protein crystals; 3D structure determination of proteins; Structure-based design of potential drugs, therapeutic agents, ligands; Structural analysis from diffraction data collected at large scale facilities.

RELEVANT EQUIPMENT:  
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
SuperNova by Rigaku (former Oxford Diffraction)
TYPE:   X-ray generator
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   Institute of Chemical Biology- X-ray Protein Crystallography facility "Nikos G. Oikonomakos" / Instruct-EL hub
DESCRIPTION:   In house X-ray generator equipped with: • Cu Kα radiation, λ=1.54 Å • Microfocus sealed tube X-ray generator • CCD detector, diameter 135 mm • Cryogenic system with liquid nitrogen
FUNDER:   European Union, FP7-REGPOT-2008-1, No. 230146, "EUROSTRUCT"
 
 
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
Leica ΜΖ16 by Leica Microsystems
TYPE:   Stereoscope
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   Institute of Chemical Biology- X-ray Protein Crystallography facility "Nikos G. Oikonomakos" / Instruct-EL hub
DESCRIPTION:   Stereoscope equipped with a digital camera and polarized light (160x zoom)
FUNDER:   OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME "COMPETITIVENESS", Measure 4.5., Action 4.5.1.: INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, TECHNOLOGICAL PROMOTION AND DISSEMINATION.
 
 
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
OryxNano, Automatic Protein Crystallization Systems by Douglas Instruments
TYPE:   Protein Crystallisation Robot
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   Institute of Chemical Biology- X-ray Protein Crystallography facility "Nikos G. Oikonomakos" / Instruct-EL hub
DESCRIPTION:   High-throughput macromolecular crystallization robot (3rd generation). (Installed in a controlled-temperature crystallization room, equipped with incubators in temperatures 10, 14, 16 and 20 °C)
FUNDER:   OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME "COMPETITIVENESS", Measure 4.5., Action 4.5.1.: INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, TECHNOLOGICAL PROMOTION AND DISSEMINATION.
 
 
RELEVANT EXPERTISE:  
Instruct-EL hub personnel has more than 25 years experience in X-ray protein crystallography investigating the three-dimensional structure and properties of proteins and protein-ligand complexes from data collected in conventional and synchrotron radiation sources (e.g. EMBL-Hamburg, Petra III; Diamond Light Source, Oxford; Max IV, Lund).
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH "DEMOKRITOS", NCSR-DEMOKRITOS
LOCATION:   Athens | http://www.demokritos.gr/
RELEVANT STAFF:   Georgios Nounesis
SERVICE DETAILS:   Not available.
RELEVANT EQUIPMENT:  
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
Raxis IV by M.S.C.
TYPE:   Image Plate
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   "Demokritos", Building 20
DESCRIPTION:  
FUNDER:   Region of Attica
 
 
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
by Rigaku
TYPE:   Rotating anode
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   "Demokritos", Building 20
DESCRIPTION:  
FUNDER:   Region of Attica
 
 
RELEVANT EXPERTISE:  
FORTH – INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES
LOCATION:   Platani, Patra | http://www.iceht.forth.gr
RELEVANT STAFF:   Vassileios Dracopoulos
SERVICE DETAILS:  

Phase identification of bulk and film samples (Pharmaceutical Industry)

Crystallite size determination

Crystallinity percentage

Solid state reactions up to 1173K

RELEVANT EQUIPMENT:  
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
D8 ADVANCE by BRUKER AXS
TYPE:   X-ray Powder Difractometer
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   X-ray diffraction & microscopy laboratory, FORTH/ICE-HT, Patras
DESCRIPTION:  

Configuration: θ-θ horizontal Bragg-Brentanno geometry

Goniometer: 600mm circle goniometer

Source: CuKa (1.6kW max)

Primary optics: fixed slits, knife edge collimator

Diffracted optics: fixed antiscatter slits, Cu absorber, soller slits, monochromator

Detectors: Scintillation, 1-D solid state super fast detector (Lynx-Eye)

Parallel beam optics: Gobel mirror

Available options: Grazing incidence XRD, Thin film measurements (XRR), high temperature furnace (RT-900oC) working under reductive and oxidative atmospheres

 


FUNDER:   General Secretariat for Research & Technology
 
 
RELEVANT EXPERTISE:  
AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
LOCATION:   Athens | https://www2.aua.gr/en
RELEVANT STAFF:   Elias Eliopoulos , Kostas Bethanis
SERVICE DETAILS:  

Visit the provider's website: http://inspired.aua.gr/instruct/

RELEVANT EQUIPMENT:  
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
HP Intel Xeon by HP
TYPE:   Bioinformatics Server
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   75 Iera Odos, Athens 118 55, Greece, Agricultural University of Athens, Hassiotes Build., 1st Floor, Biotechnology Dept., Genetics Lab
DESCRIPTION:  

Server consists of 24 units of 8-core Intel Xeon 2.8GHz workstations with 32GB internal memory each.


FUNDER:   INSPIRED-AUA GSRT
 
 
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
D8 Venture by Bruker
TYPE:   X-ray Crystallography system
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:   75 Iera Odos, Athens 118 55, Greece, Agricultural University of Athens, Hassiotes Build., 1st Floor, Biotechnology Dept., Physics Lab
DESCRIPTION:  

The D8 Venture system includes:

IμS microfocus X-ray source, Cu radiation, air cooled

Four-circle goniometer, computer-controlled, crystal-detector distance = 35-240mm, sphere of confusion of less than 7 micrometer

Detector PHOTON 100, CMOS technology, air-cooled, 100 x 100mm active area, 240e/Cu sensitivity, shutterless data collection

800 Series Cryostream cooler, Oxford Cryosystems, AD51 Dry Air Unit, Integrated Autofill system, 60 lt and 150 lt dewar vessels.

APEX3 and PROTEUM software


FUNDER:   NSRF 2007-2013, Regional Operational Programme Attica
 
 
RELEVANT EXPERTISE:  
UNIVERSITY OF CRETE
LOCATION:   Heraklion, Crete | http://en.uoc.gr/
RELEVANT STAFF:   Kathrin Kefala , Michael Kokkinidis
SERVICE DETAILS:  

Single crystal Xray diffractometer from Bruker is an X-ray generator which enables us to check crystals of various sizes and collect X-ray diffraction data from a single crystal sample. In addition to the single source configuration of the D8 QUEST, the larger enclosure of the D8 VENTURE hosts all the high intensity sources for working on even smaller, weakly diffracting crystals. The D8 VENTURE offers highest experimental flexibility, with excellent sample accessibility and visibility. It is engineered with high modularity from best-in-class components and is available in popular all-air-cooled configurations. The absolutely open design protects your investment with maximum flexibility for future extensions. It hosts the experimental setup in a more spacious enclosure that also provides room for rotating anode, revolutionary liquid metal X-ray source for structural biology, highest X-ray intensity in-house for even smaller and more challenging samples, self-regenerating target with Ga-radiation for lower background scattering and radiation damage, combination of two different wavelengths, fast and fully-automated wavelength switch.

RELEVANT EQUIPMENT:  
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
D8 Quest by Bruker AXS
TYPE:  
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:  
DESCRIPTION:  

The D8 VENTURE hosts the experimental setup in a more spacious enclosure that also provides room for rotating anode, liquid metal jet and dual wavelengths solution. All systems feature the revolutionary PHOTON II CPAD detector.

The D8 VENTURE offers highest experimental flexibility, with excellent sample accessibility and visibility. It is engineered with high modularity from best-in-class components and is available in popular all-air-cooled configurations. The absolutely open design protects your investment with maximum flexibility for future extensions.


FUNDER:  
 
 
RELEVANT EXPERTISE:  
UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY
LOCATION:   Larissa, Karditsa Thessaly, Greece | https://www.uth.gr
RELEVANT STAFF:   Demetres Leonidas
SERVICE DETAILS:   Not available.
RELEVANT EQUIPMENT:  
EQUIPMENT UNIT:  
Microstar by Bruker
TYPE:   Rotating anode
ADDITIONAL INFO:  
 
LOCATION:  
DESCRIPTION:  
FUNDER:  
 
 
RELEVANT EXPERTISE: