Finback: a web-based data collection system at SSRF biological macromolecular crystallography beamlines.

An integrated computer software system for macromolecular crystallography (MX) data collection at the BL02U1 and BL10U2 beamlines of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility is described. The system, Finback, implements a set of features designed for the automated MX beamlines, and is marked with a user-friendly web-based graphical user interface (GUI) for interactive data collection. The Finback client GUI can run on modern browsers and has been developed using several modern web technologies including WebSocket, WebGL, WebWorker and WebAssembly.

Mini-beam modes on standard MX beamline BL17U at SSRF.

The macromolecular crystallography beamlines at third-generation synchrotron facilities play a central role in solving macromolecular crystal structures and also in understanding the biological function at molecular levels. The MX beamline BL17U at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility is a typical standard MX beamline with a focused beam size (H × V) of FWHM around 80 μm × 45 μm. However the protein samples brought to the beamline are down to 5-10 m from the important and challenging science project now.

Automatic crystal centring procedure at the SSRF macromolecular crystallography beamline.

X-ray diffraction is a common technique for determining crystal structures. The average time needed for the solution of a protein structure has been drastically reduced by a number of recent experimental and theoretical developments. Since high-throughput protein crystallography benefits from full automation of all steps that are carried out on a synchrotron beamline, an automatic crystal centring procedure is important for crystallographic beamlines.