Data Collection Xray

Hooray, you've got crystals! Now it's time to check whether they diffract and hopefully solve that structure.
We can have access to ESRF (France, through our BAG), MASSIF (automated data collection) or SLS (Switzerland).

Data collection at MASSIF

At beamline ID30A-1[1] (also known as MASSIF-1) Matthew Bowler et. al.[2] set up the beam for automated data collection. This is very convenient as you don't have to go there, you don't have to stay up all night and the crystal centering method outcompetes you probably on accuracy, but definitely on time. It is being paid from our available BAG beam time: 50 crystals will cost us 1 shift.
It therefore is a pretty good option if you would like to check crystals for diffraction or if you're expecting pretty straightforward data collection.

Schedule beamtime

• Choose your preferred date for data collection

Take time into account for you (and maybe others) fishing the crystals, and sending the dewars. When they arrive at ESRF, the dear will be refilled with N2, but keep in mind that FedEx doesn't deliver in the weekends: you don't want your crystals to heat up at the sunny French storage location. All-in-all I would plan this at least one week in advance.

• Ask Tassos to put it in the calendar

Tassos has access to the beamline calendar where data collection are being scheduled. He will put in your request if you tell him our current BAG number (format mx####) and the amount of crystals. When this is done, the beamtime is, in principle, booked.

• Sort out things in SMIS

Log in onto the ESRF User portal using the account of our BAG coordinator. Check whether your scheduled beamtime has an A-form available (usually after 2-3 working days of Tassos booking). Download the added Invitation Letter, it contains shipping instructions! In this letter it usually states to add the BAG responsible onto the A-form: do this via Edit A-form.
Furthermore, add your protein samples onto the A-form. If necessary, add your protein onto the list: the protein crystals you're about to send should be on there and should have green clearance for automated data collection!
Now you can submit the A-form: the BAG responsible will get a confirmation link that he/she should/will click.

• Send your crystals

Continue as if you would for any other ESRF trip Data_Collection_Xray#Sending_crystals_to_ESRF

Sending crystals to ESRF

Send samples

After having booked your timeslot, you can go ahead and send your crystals. So, fish, freeze and fill (the dewar)!

• Note down the puck numbers and what crystal is in what slot

You will need this information to fill out the Excel sheet required for automated data collection and/or to make sense of all the datasets you collect.

• Make a shipment with your samples - obligatory for MASSIF data collection

Log in at the ISpyB website[3] using the current BAG proposal number and password. Go to 'Shipment - Create Shipment'. Here fill out the details: label 'NKI_##'; amount of dewars and extra tools; select the appropriate beamtime. If your beamtime does not show up, contact the local contact that is on the A-form.
Add the lab contact details - it is easiest to select KIM-NKI-Ams1 from the list - and tick the box of the return address. All the fields below should be filled out now. If that failed use FedEx account number 126749988, billing reference 3800 and customs values of 10 EUR.

• Make the dewar ready for shipping

You now should have a precooled dewar and five pucks (all *N if sending more than 50 crystals). Make sure that the dewar is fully devoid of N2 to save border control problems and load your five pucks. Close the dewar with a piece of styrofoam and the cap: do NOT use a tie-wrap to close it off. People at ESRF will NOT refill the dewar with N2 if they can't open it. It can then go into the shipping container, ready to be shipped.

• Prepare FedEx documents

Ask the secretary to prepare a FedEx shipment. The FedEx software has an option 'Biological samples - Frozen crystals' that should be used. Other data: shipping container dimensions are 30x30x50 (or measure this yourself and update this wiki), we usually claim a value of 10 EUR. Use the following address:
Name of the local contact (taken from the A-form)

ESRF Magasin
6 Rue Jules Horowitz
38043, Grenoble Cedex 9
France
Tel: +33(0)476882733

Ask the secretary to add your email for shipping notifications, so you can track the shipment yourself. Print the FedEx forms four times; no invoice is needed.

• Prepare ESRF shipping documents

Log in at the ISpyB website[4] using the current BAG proposal number and password. Make sure the shipment has been filled out completely.
If that is the case, print the shipment forms

References

Here could be a list of references, but we need to have the Cite extension installed!!!! Template:Reflist