Bruker AXS Announces Innovative Ultra-Bright X-ray Source for Structural Biology

26 Feb 2007
Kerry Parker
CEO

Product news

At Pittcon 2007, Bruker AXS today introduces its MICROSTAR ULTRA™, an ultra-bright X-ray source for structural biology. Comparable in brightness to many second-generation synchrotron beamlines, the MICROSTAR ULTRA is the most intense home laboratory X-ray source available.

Utilizing advanced electron optics and the revolutionary new Hypercool™ anode cooling design (patent pending), the MICROSTAR ULTRA produces X-ray unrivalled intensities of 8x1010 X-rays/mm2/sec, far higher than any conventional rotating anode generator. This substantial increase in performance is beneficial for all aspects of in-house crystallographic research, from high-throughput crystal screening to structural determination. It also makes the MICROSTAR ULTRA ideal for analyzing even the smallest crystals.

Despite its performance, the MICROSTAR ULTRA is a remarkably compact and low-maintenance X-ray source, which features long operating times and low maintenance costs. There is an affordable upgrade path for existing MICROSTAR generators to the MICROSTAR ULTRA. Initial MICROSTAR ULTRA generators have been installed in Bruker demonstration laboratories and at pharmaceutical customers and are performing exceedingly well in the field.

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X-ray CrystallographyX-ray crystallography is an analytical technique used to determine the arrangement of atoms in a crystal. Monochromatic x-rays are produced from a synchrotron or x-ray generator. An x-ray crystallography system uses a detector to measure the x-ray diffraction from the crystal. The information is used to generate a 3D image of the crystal.ProteomicsProteomics is the systemic bioinformatics study of proteins and amino acids, including their structure, size, function and identification. Tools used in proteomics include chromatography, blotting and gels, protein arrays, mass spectrometry and ELISA and associated analysis software. Analyzers and proteomic systems should be sensitive, high resolution, fast and may be automated for high-throughput.Protein CrystallographyProtein crystallization is the process of crystallizing purified proteins for 3D structure analysis by x-ray crystallography. The main methods of protein crystallization include sitting drop, hanging drop and microbatch. It is important to control parameters such as pH, temperature and concentration. Following crystallization, detectors and software are used for data collection and analysis.