Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Crystallization laboratory of the Educational and Methodological Center (EMC) has opened within the Scientific and Educational Center "Institute of Chemical Technologies of the Novosibirsk State University — Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences." Its creation is part of the project "Application of Synchrotron Radiation for Virology Research," implemented under the Federal Scientific and Technological Program (FSTP) for the Development of Synchrotron and Neutron Research. This state program, designed for the period up to 2030 and beyond, aims to comprehensively address the challenges of accelerating the development of synchrotron and neutron research and the corresponding research infrastructure in the Russian Federation. The Crystallization laboratory is headed by a senior lecturer in the Department of Solid State Chemistry. Faculty of Natural Sciences NSU, Head of the Department of Synchrotron Research for Biology and Biomedicine of the SKIF Center for Collective Use Sergey Arkhipov.
— The laboratory operates within the framework of the research program "Application of synchrotron radiation for virological research to develop new immunological drugs." We also conduct scientific research under the program "Priority 2030» on the project that is supervised Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies NSU. The laboratory staff is primarily undergraduate and graduate students, but there are also more experienced scientists. Among them is Sofia Borisevich, a doctor of chemical sciences. One of the tasks she completed was preparing a methodological manual, "All Facets of Molecular Docking," said Sergey Arkhipov.
The laboratory’s activities are carried out in three directions. The first is to carry out research work related to molecular modeling of the spatial structures of proteins and their complexes, modeling the behavior of such objects in solution, crystallization and further X-ray diffraction analysis of the samples under study. The modeling stage helps to form structural hypotheses, select objects whose probability of crystallization is minimal, and select an appropriate research method to solve the problem. The second direction is the formation and development of the material base for the crystallization of biopolymers and low molecular weight organic compounds, sampling of crystals and their study by X-ray diffraction analysis. Third, carrying out activities aimed at training qualified personnel to carry out research activities using synchrotron radiation. One of these events is the School of Young Scientists “Application of Synchrotron Radiation to Solve Biological Problems,” which has been held at NSU annually for four years. Particular attention during training is paid to macromolecular crystallography. The School’s teachers are researchers involved in synchrotron research from all over the country. The total number of event participants is usually about one hundred people from more than 20 organizations. In 2026, the School will be held for the fifth time. Also this year it is planned to conduct a program of additional professional education “Megascience-class installations for biology: from problem statement to interpretation of the data obtained”, and next year – “Possibilities of the SKIF Center for Common Use and other sources of synchrotron radiation for research in the field of biology.”
"We conduct diffraction studies of biopolymers in collaboration with the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and participate in experiments at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. We process the experimental data at NSU. We successfully use molecular modeling to create initial models and design potential mobile molecular regions. Another priority area of the laboratory's work is identifying crystallization conditions for low-molecular organic compounds that may be potential medicinal substances, as well as determining their structures using X-ray diffraction analysis. This work is primarily conducted using equipment from the Department of Solid State Chemistry of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at NSU," explained Sergey Arkhipov.
The laboratory is equipped with a unit with the necessary climate for crystallization, a robot that allows for dosing and mixing liquids in very small quantities, as well as a minimal set of reagents and equipment for extracting, freezing, and transporting frozen crystals to synchrotron radiation sources.
"The safest way to transport macromolecular crystals is at liquid nitrogen temperature—around -196°C. Our laboratory has a specialized Dewar flask for this purpose, which is even certified for air transport. It can be used not only for transporting crystals but also for storing them. While it's not a cryostor, it does provide sufficiently long-term storage for biopolymer crystals, allowing for convenient transport from NSU to the SKIF Center for Collective Use and then awaiting their turn at the research station," said Sergey Arkhipov.
Laboratory staff have already obtained crystals of macromolecular compounds for research at the SKIF Center for Collective Use, the launch of which is scheduled for this year.
"During the launch of the first phase of the SKIF Center for Collective Use, expert user groups from across Russia will be invited to evaluate the experimental capabilities of the research facility and document them appropriately. We hope that the samples obtained in our laboratory will be among the very first to be analyzed at the SKIF Center for Collective Use. For us, the launch of the SKIF Center for Collective Use and access to the research infrastructure are extremely important, as the lack of nearby synchrotron radiation sources significantly slows down the speed of our research. The launch of the synchrotron will resolve a number of issues related to sample transportation and will allow us to conduct experiments much more frequently, which is critical for the implementation of complex projects in structural biology," added Sergey Arkhipov.
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