Background

The popularity of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has increased in structural biology research because it is a useful technique to determine the shape and size of biological macromolecules in solution. Many SAXS experiments are performed at synchrotrons because of the short exposure times these high-intensity sources provide. However, getting beam time is competitive, beam time allotments are short, and the time in between synchrotron trips can be relatively long. The BioSAXS-1000 was designed to enable structural biologists to quickly collect SAXS data at home on their local X-ray source. The BioSAXS-1000 combines a focusing optic with Kratky beam collimation to achieve high X-ray fl ux on the sample without any need for data desmearing. Scattered X-ray photons are measured accurately by a highly sensitive DECTRIS® PILATUS 100K detector. As little as 15 μl of sample can be measured in the temperature-controlled sample holder.