# Macromolecular X-ray Diffraction Core Research Facility

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA · 2020 · $230,664

## Abstract

The CBSD Macromolecular X-ray Diffraction Core (MXDC) provides support, expertise, and infrastructure to
CBSD COBRE Investigators and University of Montana laboratories that use X-ray crystallography as a tool to
determine the three-dimensional structures of small molecules and biological macromolecules, and seek to
express and purify proteins and RNA for biochemical, biophysical and structural studies. The MXDC
possesses the infrastructure and expertise to provide comprehensive user access to shared major
instrumentation and research training for expression of recombinant proteins in bacteria and insect cells, robot-
assisted crystallization of macromolecules, evaluation of crystallization experiments, and measurement of
diffraction data from crystals of both small and macromolecules and determination of their three-dimensional
structures at atomic or near-atomic resolution. The facility houses a Rigaku 007HF X-ray generator and R-axis
image plate detector for macromolecular crystallography and a Bruker D8 Venture fixed Chi dual source
diffractometer for small molecule applications. Both instruments feature Oxford liquid-nitrogen crystal cryo-
cooling-systems. The MXDC routinely measures X-ray diffraction data from crystals at synchrotron sources at
single and multiple wavelengths for structure determination by molecular replacement, heavy atom, and
anomalous dispersion phasing. Computational resources of the MXDC are also available for X-ray data
processing, structure determination, refinement, and visualization for both small-molecule and macromolecular
structure determination. The MXDC encourages a collaborative model, in which faculty, students and staff
conduct projects with assistance and training from Core personnel. The MXDC is a resource for training,
education, consultation and collaboration in protein expression/purification and both small molecule and
macromolecular X-ray crystallographic techniques. The specific aims of this component of the Phase II CBSD
COBRE are: 1, to oversee and maintain a productive collaborative facility by adopting procedures for project
planning, an appropriate fee structure and project reporting mechanism, and both short-term and strategic
planning with the guidance of an Advisory Committee; 2, to maintain and enhance gene-to-structure and small
molecule structure determination services by implementing state-of-the-art technologies; 3, to pursue research
collaborations with CBSD COBRE investigators in aspects of their projects that involve areas of MXDC
expertise; and 4, to provide training in practical application of techniques in protein expression, purification,
crystallization, and X-ray structure determination (macro and small-molecule) for CBSD investigators and UM
faculty through direct collaborations, workshops, lectures, the MXDC website and the MDXC Core Fellowship
Program.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10004084
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103546-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephen R Sprang
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $230,664
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10004084

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10004084, Macromolecular X-ray Diffraction Core Research Facility (5P20GM103546-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10004084. Licensed CC0.

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