Report of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Working Group on Structural Biology at Synchrotron Radiation Facilities

January 1999

WorkingGroup Report

Executive Summary

In the past year a number of reports have been released that confirm the increased demand for synchrotron radiation in order to carry out x-ray crystallography of biological macromolecules.There were other well-documented concerns that current capabilities were not adequate to accommodate this demand. To address these concerns, a WorkingGroup of the Office of Science and Technology Policy was established to study how access to the beamlines for x-ray crystallographic studies could be improved. The need for development of additional capabilities to serve other users of synchrotron radiation will require separate consideration.

There have been numerous demonstrations of the advantages of using synchrotron radiation for crystallography: rapid data collection, use of smaller crystals than with conventional x-ray sources, and the ability to conduct measurements at multiple wavelengths. Because of these characteristics, the demand on the available synchrotron facilities has grown rapidly. As measured by depositions in the Protein Data Bank,the percentage of macromolecular crystal structures determined using synchrotron radiation increased from 18 percent in 1990 to 44 percent in 1996. The demand for synchrotron access is likely to increase even more rapidly in tandem with developments in genomics, where the discovery of new proteins will provide new opportunities for understanding protein structure and function.

There are currently five synchrotron facilities for biomolecular crystallography. Four of these; the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory, the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center are supported by DOE. One, the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) at Cornell University, is supported by NSF. An additional facility, the Center for Advanced Microstructure and Design (CAMD) at Baton Rouge, is supported by the state of Louisiana. The latter facility may have the potential for conducting crystallographic studies, but does not currently have an operating crystallography station.

These organizations support the rings and the accelerators. The beamlines, through which the radiation is utilized, receive support from various sources, including beamline operators or consortia of users, such as industry, university groups, and government programs.The federal agencies that provide some of this support include components of NSF, DOE, and NIH.

An examination was conducted of funding and requirements in a number of areas:

• Staffing: Increased staffing is needed to better serve users and effectively utilize the existing beamlines. This is perhaps the highest priority, and it appears that most of the estimated current requirements will be met by existing agency initiatives in FY99.

• Detectors and other equipment: Efficient utilization of the beamlines requires upgraded equipment, especially detectors, that will both improve throughput and add scientific capabilities. Much of thecurrent need for detectors appear to be met by planned agency expenditures.However, approximately another $2 million to $3 million may be requiredfor detectors and other equipment. Future requirements are estimated tobe about $3.75 million in the short term, based on the current number ofequivalent beamlines available for general users.

• Research and development: R&D in bothhardware and software will result in both increased efficiency and theability to do new science. No exact dollar value can be assigned to thiseffort. Applications for development of detector technology are now beingconsidered, and a transagency announcement to stimulate joint researchapplications for relevant R&D is encouraged.

• Improved access procedures: Several reports on synchrotron use have stated that the current mechanisms for application and review of beam time need to be more rapid and streamlined. The WorkingGroup strongly encourages discussions among all the interested parties to address this issue.

• Upgrades in facility operations: The WorkingGroup strongly recommends the initiation of upgrades for the DOE-supported synchrotrons. Although the operation of CHESS is reasonably secure for the next five years, beyond that time the situation is much less certain. A group should be assembled to assess the consequences for CHESS and the crystallographic community if funding for this facility is lost within the next decade, as well as to consider current operating requirements.

• Expansion of existing crystallographic capabilities: Discussions of expansion were focussed on ALS and CAMD. ALS currently hasan operating crystallographic station, and there is potential to significantly expand the capabilities of ALS to further support crystallography. There is at the present time no such station at CAMD, and its potential is still unknown. However, considering the value to the crystallography community in the South and Southwest of regional access, the opportunity to establish a station at CAMD should be carefully considered. Additionally, new beamlines will be needed at the other synchrotrons as demand increases. Because ofthe lag time of up to three years in developing a beamline, it is necessary to start considering possible construction well before the time when user demand would saturate the new beamline capacity.

• In conclusion, the Working Group believes that many, but by no means all, of the requirements for optimal use of synchrotrons for crystallography are beginning to be addressed. It is essential that the interagency coordination that resulted in this report be continued in order to track existing efforts to ensure that the goals have been met, to consider new opportunities and developments in this rapidly moving area of science, and to address other needs, including the necessary upgrades that have been described in this report. We believe that the interagency process used in this study also could be valuable in evaluating other broad issues and needs involving synchrotrons, as well as other resources such as neutrons and high-field NMR.

Introduction

The rapidly expanding need for synchrotron facilities to carry out x-ray crystallographic studies of macromolecules has been well documented. Three outstanding analyses provide an almost comprehensive overview of requirements and resources – "Report of the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee Panel on D.O.E. Synchrotron Radiation Sources and Science", November, 1997; "Structural Biology and SynchrotronRadiation: Evaluation of Resources and Needs", from the Structural Biology Synchrotron Users Organization, December, 1997; and "Survey of Structural Biology Beam Lines and Instrumentation at US Synchrotron Centers – Needs and Opportunities for the Future", developed by Keith Hodgson and Eaton Lattman, February, 1998. These publications will be referred to as the BESAC Report, the Biosync Report, and the Hodgson/Lattman Report, respectively. In addition, a Structural Biology Subcommittee of the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Jonathan Greer, has produced a document ¾ using the information in the reports noted above¾ that develops "recommendations as to the resources and processes that are necessary for the proper support of the macromolecular crystallographic community at the synchrotrons" (the "Greer Report", p.1). The present communication by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Working Group on Structural Biology at Synchrotrons, (referred to in this document as "the Working Group"), is based on the information provided by all of the reports listed above. The members of the Working Group are listed in Attachment 1. A list of agency personnel who provided significant assistance in the discussions and preparation of the report is provided in Attachment 2.

As stated in the Biosync report, " TheU.S. national capacity for crystallographic experiments at synchrotron resources has approximately doubled since 1991…. However, demand continues to outpace supply by a factor of approximately two (Biosync, p.14)". The BESAC Report states that "access to a synchrotron beamline for macromolecular crystallography (is) essential to almost any structure problem (BESAC,p.66)", and "it is expected that structural biology use of the synchrotron will continue to increase dramatically for the next decade (BESAC, p.72)."Furthermore, the BESAC report notes that already today "The major impediment to use of the synchrotron has been timely access to beam time (BESAC, p.71)."

To address these concerns, a Working Group of the Office of Science and Technology Policy was established to examine how current and future access to beamlines for macromolecular x-ray crystallography could be improved. Additionally, longer-term improvements in capabilities were also to be considered. As noted in the Biosync Report, "Collaboration of (the agencies) would increase operational efficiency and planning for synchrotron source upgrades and the infrastructure required (Biosync, p.9)."The Working Group's primary goal is to stimulate such interagency collaboration, which should result in more efficient use of resources and improved synchrotron access for crystallographers.

It is important to note that synchrotron radiation is of great importance in many areas of science, including many areas of biology, through the implementation of techniques such as small angle x-ray scattering, x-ray microscopy, and x-ray spectroscopy. This report focuses on crystallography because of the great increases in demand and heavy utilization of the synchrotrons by the crystallographic community.The requirements of other research communities for which synchrotron access is essential should be considered separately.

Part1: What is Synchrotron Radiation and Why is it Important?

A synchrotron is a ring-shaped particle accelerator that uses electric fields to accelerate charged particles,and magnetic fields to steer them in a circular path. As the particles,such as electrons or positrons, travel along the circular path near the speed of light, they lose energy by emitting electromagnetic radiation, which is called "synchrotron radiation." For high-energy physicists this is a nuisance. But for users of X-rays these emitted beams are a wonderful bonus. Initially the applications of synchrotron radiation were entirely parasitic on high-energy physics experiments. Increasingly the applications have become an end in themselves and rings have been developed with this use in mind.

The rings simply generate the X-rays. Inorder to utilize them the beam is directed into "beamlines." These have experimental stations that are outfitted with optics, detectors, and whatever else is required for the specific uses that are planned. Support of the beamlines can be provided by the facility operators or by consortia of users, which may include industry, university groups, and government programs.

The emitted beam of X-rays is tangential to the curvature of the ring, and stations can be set up around the circumference to sample the emitted beam. This beam has the following characteristics:

• It has a spectral distribution over a wide range of energies, allowing the use of techniques that require multiple wavelength X-rays;
• The beam has very high intensity ("flux"), a term that describes the number of photons available per unit time;
• The beam also has very high brilliance, measured as the intensity in a unit solid angle, so that an extremely large number of photons can be directed at a very small crystal;

Advantages of Synchrotron Radiation

The advantages of these characteristics in macromolecular crystallography, compared to conventional sources (condensed from the BESAC Report, p.66), are:

• The orders of magnitude increase in brilliance over conventional x-ray generators allows data collection that previously took hours or days to be done in minutes, generating a significant increase in throughput;
• The increased brilliance also means that much smaller crystals can be used than in conventional x-ray crystallography;
• Higher resolution structures can be obtained;
• Because of the highly focused beams, the structuresof very large molecules can be obtained;
• Multiple Anomalous Dispersion (MAD) techniques, which require measurements at multiple wavelengths, can only reasonably be done at synchrotrons. This approach has many benefits, primarily the lack of a requirement for is omorphous replacement;
• Because of the high intensity, full data sets may be collected in seconds or fractions of a second. The short electron bunch length opens the possibility of performing time resolved structural studies in certain cases.

Current Level of Demand

A study conducted in 1997 by the Structural Biology Synchrotron Users Organization (BIOSYNC) provides some valuable data. First, the number of crystal structures determined each year (as measured by deposition in the Protein Data Bank) has increased rapidly, from 512 entries in 1991 to 1437 in 1996 (Figure 1). Of new macromolecular crystal structures, 18 percent were determined at synchrotrons in 1990, and 44 percent in 1996 (Biosync, p.12). Furthermore, in 1997, 26 percent of the DOE synchrotron users were in the life sciences, the great majority being crystallographers (BESAC Report, p.65). The major disciplinary area is Materials Sciences, comprising 38 percent of the users.

This increased demand has resulted in some serious problems. Not only do many people have difficulty finding time at the synchrotrons, but even for those who are approved the waiting time is typically six months (BESAC Report, p.71). Some concrete examples of increased demand on crystallography stations were provided to our committee for the synchrotron located at Stanford (SSRL) (Keith Hodgson, personal communication). Details for one of the SSRL crystallographic beam lines (a bending magnet MAD station) showed demand at 58 percent of capacity in FY 1996, 95 percent in FY 1997, and 115 percent in FY 1998. A second very high intensity wiggler monochromatic beamline which was in its firstfull year of scheduling during FY 1998 was very heavily oversubscribed, with a demand that was 323 percent over capacity. The demand for access to synchrotrons is likely to increase even more rapidly given the growing importance of timely and accurate information in drug discovery, the significantly increased capabilities for study of larger and much more complex systems including whole viruses and from developments in genomics where the discovery of new proteins will provide new opportunities for understanding protein structure and function.

Structures Deposited in the Protein Data Base
Data taken from the PDB Web site (http://www.pdb.bnl.gov/)

Part2: Existing Facilities and Levels of Support

Existing Facilities

There are currently five synchrotron facilities supporting x-ray structure studies, and one in which such studies are being considered for development. By far the most significant provider of support is the Department of Energy (DOE), which maintains four facilities. In addition, the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports one facility and the state of Louisiana another one (Table 1). Each of these facilities supports multiple consortia of users at a number of beam lines, for purposes ranging from microscopy to spectroscopy to x-ray diffraction, in fieldsfrom biology to geology to materials science.

The various synchrotrons have different operating capabilities, of which one important characteristic is the energy at which they operate. This energy, usually indicated in GeV (billion electronvolts), determines the energy of the photons that are emitted as synchrotron radiation. Low energy sources, in the range 1.0-2.0 GeV, do not provide X-rays in the region appropriate for diffraction studies at suitable intensities without additional modifications, such as insertion devices (see below). High-energy sources, such as the APS, which operates at 7 GeV, provide both high energy X-rays and high brilliance, e.g. a high intensity of X-rays focused on a small target.

The synchrotrons are often characterized as first-, second-, or third-generation sources. A first-generation source is one that is "parasitic", i.e. operated primarily for particle physics. A second-generation source is one that is dedicated to the production of X-rays, rather than to the use of the electrons for particle physics. A third-generation source is one that has been built to optimize high brilliance with an emphasis on "insertion devices." These devices can be inserted into the ring to enhance the operation. There are two categories of insertion devices, called "undulators" and "wigglers." The undulator specifically improves the intensity, focus, and brilliance of the beam. The wiggler improves the intensity to a lesser degree than the undulator, but has a much broader spectral range and does not focus the beam. In addition, the wiggler shifts the wavelength of the emitted X-rays, thus allowing lower energy sources to provide X-rays in the region of interest to crystallographers.Although both of these insertion devices are often used in first- and second-generation rings, they are not as efficient in this environment as in the newer third-generation sources, which are designed specifically to optimize their use.

Description of the Facilities

The following provides a summary of the available synchrotron light sources that can be used for biological studies,with an emphasis on their crystallographic capabilities. Because this report only considers light sources that are now capable or can be made capable of supporting crystallography, there is no discussion of the low-energy facilities at Wisconsin and at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The Advanced Light Source (ALS)

This is a third-generation synchrotron located at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, California, and supported by DOE. Operating at the comparatively low energy of 1.0-1.9GeV, it is optimized for the ultraviolet and soft x-ray region, and the availability of undulators ensures a very high brightness in these regions. Although the biological applications are primarily in x-ray spectroscopy, the use of wigglers permits development of crystallography beamlines.

There is currently one beamline available for x-ray crystallography, with another planned. MAD experiments have been conducted at this line. Both lines are planned to be 40 percent available for general users.

Advanced Photon Source (APS)

This synchrotron, supported by DOE, is located at the Argonne National Laboratory, in Argonne, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. It, together with the ALS, is one of the newest facilities. It has the highest energy (7 GeV) and a very high brilliance in the hard x-ray region because it is a third-generation source and optimized for undulators . It is one of only three third-generation facilities in the world operating at these high energies.

There are currently seven beamlines at APS devoted to biomolecular crystallography. Of these, four can support MAD measurements, and two can support time-resolved measurements. Five of the beamlines are available to general users, while one¾ operated by a consortium of pharmaceutical companies ¾ is now being developed; it will provide 25 percent general user access time. There are a number of other existing and planned beamlines that will provide macromolecular crystallographic capability in the future.

Center for Advanced Microstructure andDesign (CAMD)

This is an unusual source because in contrast to all of the other synchrotrons it is not operated as a national user facility. CAMD is operated by Louisiana State University and supported by the state of Louisiana. It represents the only such facility in the Southern and Southwestern United States.

CAMD began operations in the fall of 1992 and is operating at 1.2-1.5 GeV. At the moment, none of the beamlines have x-ray crystallography capabilities, although one such is planned.

Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source(CHESS)

The CHESS facility is supported by the NSF as a user facility. It is not a dedicated source for synchrotron radiation, but is parasitic on the high-energy physics program and is thus a first-generation machine. It operates at 5 GeV. Three of the beamlines are for macromolecular crystallography and are supported by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and by NSF. One of these can operate as a MAD station. All three are 100 percent available for general access use.
 

National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS)

This facility is located at the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York, and supported by DOE. It is a second-generation source operating at 2.8 GeV.

There are nine stations for biological structure studies, eight of which have MAD capabilities, and two have time-resolved capabilities. Four stations provide 100 percent general user access, two provide 50 percent general access, and three provide 25 percent general access. A tenth station is being developed

Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory(SSRL)

Located in Palo Alto, California, and supported by DOE, this is a second-generation source operated at 3.0 GeV. There are five beam lines for x-ray crystallography (two for MAD). Of these, four are 100 percent general user lines, and one is available to general users 33 percent of the time.
 
 

Existing Support for Crystallography Beamlines

Much of this data is summarized in Table2.

Department of Energy

The DOE budget for operating and capital equipment at the four synchrotron facilities was $163.4 million in 1997, provided by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES Report, p.105). In FY99 about $6 million will be provided for crystallographic beamline support, all from the Office of

Biological and Environmental Research.

National Institutes of Health

The direct NIH support for beamlines at synchrotrons has come in the past entirely from the National Center for Research Resources. In FY99 this is expected to be about $9 million. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) is planning to provide an additional $4 million in FY99.

* NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences provides $800,000 for the operation of

CHESS

** Amounts not yet determined

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation supports both the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) and the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). CESR was designed and is primarily supported for high-energy physics experiments. CHESS is parasitic on CESR and provides synchrotron facilities to a wide range of users. The support for CESR is provided by the NSF Physics Division, and a major upgrade of CESR, costing approximately $26 million, is underway. The NSF Division of Materials Research will provide about $2.1 million in FY99 for operations of CHESS. In FY99, the Directorate for Biological Sciences at NSF will provide about $800,000 for support of beamlines related to macromolecular crystallography.
 
 

PART3: Recommendations for Support of Biological Crystallography at Synchrotrons

Staffing

The existing beamlines do not have sufficient staff to provide round-the-clock user support, much less to provide the level of help needed for inexperienced users (BESAC, p.3; Biosync, p.18; Hodgson/Lattman, p.4). An increase in staffing to an average level of four support staff per beamline was considered by the Greer Committee (p.5) as a minimal level to approach optimal operation.

Committee Analysis: There are currently 28 beamlines that provide access for biological crystallography, including those planned or under construction (Table 3). In estimating the requirements that should be met through support from government agencies, it was decided that only those beamlines, or fraction of beamlines, that are available to general users should be considered. Prorating for this fraction, there is a total of approximately 15 beamlines, and thus a recommended total staff allowance of 60. Because current staffing levels are approximately 47 (Table 3), a total of about 13 additional staff are required. Estimating an average cost of $125,000 per staff, 13 staff members would require an additional $1.6 million investment above current levels.
 

* = planned or under construction ID =insertion device

⁺ = 13 staff shared at 3 beamlines MD = MAD experiments

⁺⁺ = 8 staff shared at 2 beamlines MN = monochromatic experiments

Note: BM = bending magnet L = Laue experiments

Recommendations:

It was the opinion of the Working Group that staffing needs probably will be met this year through the additional resources planned by the funding agencies, although it is difficult to be precise about the details. It must be emphasized, however, that the level of four support staff per beamline is a minimal estimate. For example,the NCRR has started a pilot effort at SSRL and CHESS to accept mailed samples for remote access and control of beamlines over the Internet. This will require additional staffing beyond the "normal" levels. Depending on the nature of the research being conducted at the beamline the level of staffing might be higher. Additionally, there may be a significant increase in "naïve" users who require more assistance than the experienced user who has been the norm to date. On the other hand, there is also an economy of scale so that a smaller number of support staff is required for several adjacent beamlines, compared to the same number of individual lines. A reevaluation of the staffing situation should be made after FY99 to determine how well the goal of optimal utilization has been met.

Detectors and Other Equipment

The ability of a beamline to rapidly process information depends in part on the availability of a fast detector such as a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) or other modern devices (Hodgson/Lattman,p.13). In addition, upgrades of other components of the beamlines, such as the optics, are periodically required.

Committee Analysis: The Hodgson/Lattmanreport developed a "wish list" of 10 new detectors and spares for existing crystallographic beamlines. Assuming a cost of about $500,000/detector, this would amount to about $5 million. (The recommendation in the Greer Report of $10 million needed in upgrades includes estimates from other than crystallographic beamlines and also factors in other components.)

A survey of the agencies indicated that they planned to purchase a minimum of six new detectors. Most of these would be installed as upgrades for outmoded devices, but it was agreedthat replacement detectors are essential to maintain continued service on a beamline in the case of detector failure. Maintaining a set of spare sat every synchrotron seemed excessively expensive, however, and could lead to investment in equipment that is likely to become obsolete after a few years. A set of three to four spare detectors seemed adequate, if they are managed centrally. Needs could then be met by shipping the detectors as required.

It is more difficult to assess the need for other upgrades, such as optics. The Hodgson/Lattman Report lists five to eight beamlines that requested some level of optics upgrade. This would cost approximately $1 million. The Greer Report estimates average annual capital costs, including maintenance, of about $250,000 per beamline. For 15 equivalent beamlines, this would amount to $3.75 million per year.

Recommendations: It seems very likely that a significant percentage of the short-term requirements for capital equipment, particularly detectors, will be met by planned agency investments. It would be useful for the agencies that are involved to develop a mechanism to jointly fund a centrally managed pool of three to four detectors to be used as spares. This should cost about $1 million.

Other hardware requirements are more idiosyncratic and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, it is likely that every synchrotron will require on average $250,000 per beamline each year to maintain and improve capital equipment. This should be factored into agency budgets.

Research and Development

The ability of the synchrotron to support biological crystallography is still undergoing a rapid evolution. The ability to use this tool effectively in the future is dependent on the R&D that is done today.

Committee Analysis: All of the reports stressed the need for continued research and development, particularly in the areas of detector improvement, beamline automation, computational applications, and such approaches as remote data collection and processing. Several organizations, most prominently NCRR/NIH and OBER/DOE, are already planning support in these areas or are anticipating applications.

Recommendations: It seems once more that there are a number of agency actions that will address these requirements. However, it is strongly recommended that a joint transagency announcement be developed that encourages research applications that address critical issues affecting synchrotron operation, particularly as related to crystallographic studies.

The primary areas of R&D that are ofdirect importance for crystallography are detector development, beamline automation, and data collection and other methodology development (Greer, pp.9-10; Hodgson/Lattman, pp.12-13, 15). However, other areas of R&D are important to improve general performance and use, such as efforts to improve beam stability, operation at higher currents, and other aspects of operational efficiency (BESAC, pp. 85-86). As noted in the Greer Report, all of these are "essential to both the immediate and longer term health and growth of the field" (Greer, p.8). Additionally, there are discussions for further increasing x-ray brightness and intensity by development of a fourth-generation source (BESAC, p.91). This is somewhat beyond the scope of the considerations of the Working Group, but may provide new opportunities for many areas of science.

Improved Access Procedures

Access to beamtime for the general user is most often provided following application of a proposal and subsequent review. However, there are significant differences in the details of the process from one facility to the next. Although allocation is best done at the local level, the complexities of the application process can cause both unnecessary effort and unnecessary delays for the user. The Biosyncreport noted "the ponderous peer review system" and the need for "alternative mechanisms for quicker and easier access to beamlines" (p.8).

Committee Analysis: The Greer Report listed a number of ideas for changing the way applications are received and time allocated (Greer, p.7). These are all useful suggestions that deserve further consideration and active involvement of both the synchrotron directors and beamline users. The committee felt that the first step should be to examine the application process and particularly consider the possibilities, outlined in the Greer Report, of introducing a "rolling review" of about a month and developing a single point of entry at each synchrotron facility, and perhaps regionally.

Recommendations: The responsibility for allocation of beam time still should reside with the facility managers, who are best positioned to know when opportunities arise that allow access. However, as stated in the Greer report (p.7), "the current system for review of proposals and assignment of beamtime…is poorly matched to today's rapid pace of research;" therefore, there should be "a plan for more rapid and streamlined access for macromolecular crystallography". The development of such a plan is of crucial importance to ensure that actions taken to expand capabilities will not be partially defeated by a review process that is incapable of efficiently dealing with demand. We would strongly encourage joint discussions of facility managers, user committees, and agency representatives to address this critical issue.

Upgrades in Facility Operations

The effective functioning of individual beamlines is entirely dependent on the quality and efficiency of the storagering that produces the radiation. It is essential that the facilities operate in an optimal manner to provide optimal user operation.

Committee Analysis: The BESAC report generated a comprehensive list of recommendations for the four synchrotrons that are operated by DOE. Of these recommendations, the Working Group felt that the most relevant to the issues of crystallographic stations were the following:

• Provide annual cost-of living increases.

• Upgrade the SSRL.

• Upgrade the NSLS.

• Provide insertion devices and other upgrades for the remaining APS sectors.

Recommendations: It is important to emphasize the central roles that the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of DOE and the Division of Material Sciences at NSF play in the operation of the primary synchrotron facilities in the United States. Support of synchrotron operations is not something that can, or should, be accomplished through donations from various agencies or through usage charges. The BESAC report (BESAC,p.119), as well as many other reports, have consistently stated that operational and budgetary responsibilities for a facility should be located in a single agency. It is a consequence of the way science is supported in the United States that national resources such as synchrotrons may be supported through agency components whose programmatic focus is more narrowly disciplinary than the role they actually have in supporting these resources. This is true of both Basic Energy Sciences in DOE and the Material Science Divisionin NSF that supports CESR and CHESS. It is a serious error to confuse funding of the specific science programs that these organizations support with their responsibility for maintaining the synchrotrons and other large multiuser facilities. It is the belief of this Working Group that all agencies that benefit from these resources should support adequate budgets to allow efficient operation of the resources, and that these budgets be an integral part of the agency appropriation. We strongly recommend a coordinated administration effort to promote this funding.

The Working Group also strongly recommends that the upgrades noted above for the DOE-supported synchrotrons be initiated as soon as possible. This investment would total approximately $121 million.

The Working Group is not in a position to evaluate the CHESS requirements. We would strongly recommend an assessment by NSF of the current operational requirements to ensure that service is not diminished. We also strongly recommend that a group be assembled to assess the future viability of CESR and the consequences for CHESS and the crystallographic community if funding for this accelerator facility is lost in the next decade.

Expansions of Existing Crystallographic Capabilities

Although the most immediate improvements in user access can be made by enhancing existing capabilities, there is little doubt that user demands will outstrip these capabilities in the foreseeable future. It is essential that plans be developed to meet such expanded requirements.

Committee Analysis: There are a number of opportunities for expansion, some of which have been discussed in the Greer Report. The Working Group would like to focus on two specific issues, ALS and CAMD, before considering the more general case.

• ALS – ALS is a third-generation source that has been optimized for the soft x-ray region. This facility design presents both advantages (brilliance) and disadvantages (low energy) for crystallography. At the moment, there is one x-ray station. However, it is possible to expand significantly the ALS capability to support crystallography by introducing structures called "super bends" into the ring. An application has been received by NCRR to develop this capacity, and peer review should effectively assess its merit.

• CAMD – this synchrotron, supported by the state of Louisiana and located in Baton Rouge, currently has no operating x-ray crystallography station. Although it is a low-energy source, appropriate insertion devices can improve the capability to conduct crystallographic experiments. It is the only synchrotron located in the South.

Recommendation: It is unlikely that any new synchrotron construction will be accomplished in the near future. Consequently, it is essential that existing machines be made as productive as possible. Although CAMD is a small synchrotron that is not ideally configured for crystallography, it provides regional access to a large number of investigators who would otherwise have to travel significant distances to conduct experiments.The value of regional access was noted in the Biosync Report (p.8), the Greer Report (p.7), and in the BESAC Report (pp. 89, 117). For this reason alone, development of a crystallography station would be valuable. Several agencies are considering such a proposal, and we encourage examination of this opportunity.

Similarly, although the ALS was not configured for optimal crystallographic use, a variety of modifications could considerably enhance its crystallographic capability. The proposals to provide such enhancement should be carefully considered.

Finally, new beamlines for general user access as well as for specialized applications will continue to be needed. Because of the long lead time for such development (three to four years), it is essential that proposals be dealt with well before the demand becomes acute.
 
 

Summary

• Staffing: Increased staffing for user support is a high priority. It is expected that most, if not all, of the estimated current requirements will be met by existing agency initiatives in FY99. It is essential that inflationary adjustments be provided in future years to ensure continued optimal performance.

• Detectors and other equipment: Again, a significant part of the requirements for improved detectors appears to be met by planned agency expenditures in FY99. However, an additional $1 million may be required for spares, which can be distributed as needed. It is more difficult to assess the requirements for other equipment, but perhaps another $2 million to $3 million will be required. It seems likely that also in this case planned agency expenditures will provide some or most of the funds. The estimate for future years is necessarily uncertain, but on average $250,000 per beamline are required each year to maintain and improve capital equipment.

• Research and Development: No dollar value can be estimated for the requirements in this area, especially for new detector technology. A number of agencies are now considering applications.The Working Group recommends that a transagency announcement be developed that encourages joint research applications for relevant R&D.

• Improved Access Procedures: Changes in the application process for beamline time should be considered. The Working Group strongly encourages joint discussions, which would include federal agency representatives and synchrotron operators and users, to address this critical issue.

• Upgrades in Facility Operations: Approximately $121million in major upgrades for the DOE synchrotrons are recommended.These funds should be incorporated into the agency budget. It is essential that all the agencies that benefit from the availability of synchrotron resources support this effort.

• Expansion of Existing Crystallographic Capabilities: Since it is unlikely that additional synchrotrons will be built in the near future, proposals for expansion at the facilities at ALS and CAMD, which currently have little or no crystallographic capacity, should be carefully evaluated. Additionally, new beam lines at other facilities should be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is difficult to assess how much additional capacity will be needed in the next 5-10 years, but it seems certain that additional capacity will be required. Considering the 3 to 4-year time lag for construction of new beamlines, plans must be developed well in advance of the anticipated requirements.

The issues of facility upgrades and expansion of existing beam lines, although not as pressing, are equally important and have not yet been adequately addressed. The Working Group strongly urges action to consider these requirements, which could total between $40 million and $45 million in the first year, to implement an upgrade and expansion plan.

Finally, it is essential that the interagency coordination that generated this report be continued. It will be necessary,at a minimum, to track the outcomes of existing efforts to ensure thatthe projected improvements in staffing and hardware have actually occurred.It is equally important to realize that structural biology is a dynamic area and that circumstances will constantly change. It is necessary to maintain oversight and coordination to ensure that the national investment matches the requirements of the research community.
 
 

Conclusions

This study by the Working Group on Structural Biology at Synchrotrons focused exclusively on macromolecular crystallography.This was a result of the clear perception that both the scientific yield and the demands by users are increasing more rapidly than the current levels of investment can support. This perception was not the result of anecdotal information, although this was plentiful, but emerged from substantial documentation. This was initially found in the Biosync and BESAC reports,and subsequently in two reports commissioned by the Working Group: the Hodgson/Lattman and the Greer reports. (There is also an as yet unreleased study of crystallographic requirements at synchrotrons in Europe that is entirely consistent with the U.S. evaluations.) It was the availability of this documentation that not only stimulated the Working Group efforts,but permitted the analysis that emerged.

The Working Group strongly recommends thatother aspects of research at national resources be accorded similar examinations. Interagency groups should consider the current effort directed at crystallography at synchrotrons as a pilot for other considerations of national facilities,such as neutron sources and very-high-field NMR. This attempt to evaluate macromolecular crystallography requirements at synchrotron facilities andto coordinate transagency programs may serve as a model for how to conduct,(or, if unsuccessful, how not to conduct), such a process for other broadapplication areas of national concern.
 
 

WorkingGroup Members

Marvin Cassman, Ph.D. (Chair)
Director
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institutes of Health

Mary Clutter, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Biological Sciences
National Science Foundation

Patricia Dehmer, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Energy Research
Office of Basic Energy Sciences
Office of Energy Research
Department of Energy

Beverly Hartline, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Physical Sciences and Engineering
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Executive Office of the President

Ari Patrinos, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Office of Biological and Environmental Research
Department of Energy

John J. Rush, Ph.D.
Leader, Neutron Condensed Matter Science Group
Center for Neutron Research
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Judith Vaitukaitis, M.D.
Director
National Center for Research Resources
National Institutes of Health
 
 

Department of Energy

Bill Oosterhuis, Ph.D.
Team Leader for Condensed Matter Physics
and Materials Chemistry Division of Material Sciences
Office of Basic Energy Sciences Office of Energy Research

Iran L. Thomas, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Materials Sciences
Office of Basic Energy Sciences Office of Energy Research

Roland Hirsch, Ph.D.
Program Manager
Medical Sciences Division
Office of Biological and Environmental Research
 

National Institutes of Health

Dov Jaron, Ph.D.
Director
Biomedical Technology Area
National Center for Research Resources

Karl Koehler, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Biomedical Technology Area
National Center for Research Resources

John Norvell, Ph.D.
Program Director
Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics
National Institute of General Medical Sciences

National Science Foundation

Norbert M. Bikales, Ph.D.
Program Director
National Facilities and Instrumentation Program
Division of Materials Research

Lorretta Inglehart-Hopkins, Ph.D.
Staff Associate
Office of Integrative Activities

Lee Makowski, Ph.D.
Program Director
Instrumentation and Instrument Development
Division of Biological Infrastructure
 

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gary Gilliland, Ph.D.
Chief
Biotechnology Division
 

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Robert Marianelli, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Physical Sciences and Engineering
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Executive Office of the President

President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House | White House for Kids
White House History | White House Tours | Help
Privacy Statement

Help

Site Map

Graphic Version

T H E   W H I T E   H O U S E