NSRRC Activity Report 2022

130 NSRRC ACTIVITY REPORT 2022 Protein Crystallography Training Courses I and II Training Courses on Protein Crystallography coorganized by the NSRRC and the Crystallography Committee of the Republic of China were held from July 25 to 29 and from August 1 to 5. Each course enrolled of 18 first- year master’s or PhD students, newly hired postdoctoral fellows, or research assistants. Each training course consisted of lectures on theory and sessions for practicing the experimental techniques of macromolecular crystallography. The training covered synchrotron-based protein crystallography, the crystallization of proteins, data Training Courses on Protein Crystallography offered hand-on sessions to practice growing crystals, collecting data and analyzing diffraction data. collection strategies, phasing techniques, understanding radiation damage to protein crystals, and the structural determination of proteins. Students were able to grow crystals; collect and process data from single-crystal diffraction; use Gd-MAD, S-SAD, and MR phasing to determine three-dimensional protein structures; and identify the lead compound of target proteins through MR. The knowledge and skills that the students acquired from the course are essential for research and experiments in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Training Course on Thin-film Scattering The Training Course on Thin-film Scattering was held on August 9 and 10, and 34 students and researchers attended. On the first day, Director Chia-Hung Hsu gave a lecture on the crystal structure and principles of X-ray diffraction, and NSRRC beamline scientists from TPS 09A introduced thin-film X-ray scattering technology, beamline components, and a thin-film scattering instrument to attendees. Then, a step-by-step demonstration on the process of performing an experiment was held. On the second day, the NSRRC beamline scientists discussed X-ray scattering data analysis and explained data analysis software, analytical drawing, and control software for thin-film scattering instruments applicable to experiments. After the training course, the attendees were invited to participate in a 2-day hands-on session at the laboratory in which they practiced using a diffractometer, calibrating a sample position, and generating coordinates for experiments.