Center for Structural Molecular Biology

The Center for Structural Molecular Biology (CSMB) is a National User Facility and uses funding to support and develop the user access and science research program. The CSMB has been established at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The centerpiece of the CSMB is a small angle neutron scattering (SANS) facility, located at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). The HFIR has been upgraded with a new high performance cold neutron source, and an associated experimental guide hall has been built. The SANS instrument was specially designed for biological studies and is located in this guide hall, along with biological sample preparation facilities. Supporting facilities for deuterium labeling of biological macromolecules have been established at ORNL. Computational tools for modeling of biomolecular complexes and biomaterials are being developed. Biological data from the SANS facility will have the highest signal to noise ratio of any SANS instrument in this country. This capability will complement capabilities at other DOE OBER structural biology facilities and will also support studies of biomolecular complexes and recalcitrant bio-mass samples as part of the DOE Genomes to Life Program. The CSMB will support biological research at academic, industrial, and government laboratories and we have begun interactions with future users of the CSMB, which is now in full user operation. B&R KP1101010 # FY10 - $2K carryover, no new funds B&R KP 1102010 # FY10 - $7K carryover, no new funds B&R KP 1501021 # FY10 - $181K carryover B&R KP1601010 # FY10 - $1,100K New BA, FY11 - $1,100K New BA, FY12 - $1,100K New BA