Rolling proposals for beam time can now be submitted via the EMBL user portal. Access to P12 for translational projects can also be financially supported by iNEXT using regular visits, mail-in and enhanced support modes.

EMBL Hamburg operates a synchrotron beamline P12 for small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) at the PETRA III storage ring, under the  coordination of Dmitri Svergun.

P12 is an undulator beamline utilising the wavelength range between 0.6 and 3 Å. The beamline is optimised for low background data collection from macromolecular solutions and kinetic experiments with high temporal resolution. The endstation is equipped with photon counting Pilatus and Eiger detectors and with a robotic sample changer. P12 allows for fully automated and remote data acquisition and processing using the Beamline Meta Server software.

Access to the beamline P12 is available to all research groups, and is prioritised on scientific grounds only. Project proposals for beamline access are evaluated by the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC).

Further enquiries may be made to saxs@embl-hamburg.de.

How to reference P12

The use of the EMBL beamlines must be acknowledged in all publications or presentations arising from data collection at the EMBL Hamburg unit. The following note is expected to appear in the acknowledgements, giving reference to the station(s) used, supporting beamline staff or any other assistance or information, as appropriate, e.g. EU contract numbers, proposal numbers.

“The synchrotron <SAXS/MX> data was collected at beamline <P12/P13/P14> operated by EMBL Hamburg at the PETRA III storage ring (DESY, Hamburg, Germany). We would like to thank N.N.** for the assistance in using the beamline.”


**If appropriate, names of the beamline staff in case they are not co-authors.

In case of P12, please cite the beamline paper:

Blanchet CE, Spilotros A, Schwemmer F, Graewert MA, Kikhney A, Jeffries CM, Franke D, Mark D, Zengerle R, Cipriani F, Fiedler S, Roessle M, Svergun DI. (2015) J Appl Crystallogr. 48(2): 431-443. [Link to Open Access]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4379436/

Experimental possibilities
  • SAXS experiments on macromolecules, nanoparticles and bio-nanoconjugates ranging from a few kDa to Gda.
  • High throughput data collection using an automated liquid handling sample changer using about 20 ml sample per measurement (in-vacuum set up)
  • A single frame exposure time of 45 msec (with a standard monochromator) or 1 msec (multilayer monochromator) leading to total exposures about or below 1 sec
  • Size-exclusion chromatography SAXS (SEC-SAXS; FPLC/HPLC – Agilent BioInert system with an autosampler).
  • Parallel SEC-SAXS measurements combined with on-line multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and dynamic light scattering (Wyatt TREOS-QELS/T-Rex).
  • Time resolved measurements (sub-msec resolution with multilayer monochromators) and temperature scans.
  • A stopped flow device (BioLogic, in-air setup).
  • Sample holders for solutions, gels, films, powders (in-air set up).
  • ‘Bring-your-own’ user-supplied in-air sample environments.
  • Mail-in operations with the possibility of remote-access mode.
  • Additional off-line dynamic light scattering (Wyatt NanoStar) and Refractive index (Anton Paar Abbemat 550) instruments.
Parameters
Synchrotron source Standard Petra U29 undulator
Monochromator

Oxford double crystal monochromator, crystal Si (111) or Double Multilayer monochromator (DMM)
Mirror KB bimorph adaptative mirrors, Rh (-coated) and SiO3 (uncoated)
Control system Beckhoff Twincat, TINE
Wavelength 0.06 – 0.3 nm (DCM), 0.08 -0.17 (DMM)
Focal spot 0.2 mm x 0.12 mm
Flux 1013 ph/s (DCM), 5*10)14 (DMM)
Slits 4*2 pairs: two sets of Cinel water cooled slits, defining slits: motorized highly polished tungsten blade, guard slits: Hybrid Scatterless slits (Xenocs)
Automated sample changer 2 x 96 wells (crystallization plates)
4 x 8 samples (200 µl PCR stripes) + 12 buffers (1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes)
temperature controlled storage (5-40°C)
SEC-SAXS

FPLC/HPLC – Agilent BioInert system with autosampler
On-line multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and dynamic light scattering (Wyatt TREOS-QELS/T-Rex).
Exposure unit Quartz capillary, automated filling and rinsing, temperature controlled (5-55°C). Filling volume: 5 µl (20 µl for radiation sensitive samples)
Alternative sample environments YZ- alignment stage for the positioning for user made sample cell/holder.
Temperature controlled (0-100°C) capillary holder (Ø 2mm).
Stopped flow SFM-400 (Bio-Logic)
Detectors Photon counting Pilatus 2M pixel detector (253 x 288 mm2), Pilatus 1M-W detector (423.6 x 70 mm2), Eiger 4M detector (155.2 x 162.5 mm2, 750 Hz frame rate))
Sample-detector distance Tunable: 1.6 to 6.1 m