AXIOM™, X-Ray Detector for Protein Crystallography
Want to listen to this article for FREE?
Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.
Read time: 1 minute
Bruker AXS Inc. has announced at the 2005 International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) meeting in Florence, Italy the introduction of a digital imaging detector for macromolecular X-ray crystallography, the AXIOM 200. This detector is based on Bruker AXS' proprietary 'R&D 100'-award-winning microgap detector technology.
Bruker claims that, unlike older and inherently noisier analog detectors like image plates, which are unable to detect low-level X-ray signals, the AXIOM has essentially zero detector noise, and is able to record each individual X-ray photon as it strikes the detector.
Dr. Roger Durst, Chief Technology Officer for Bruker AXS, commented: "The unprecedented sensitivity of the AXIOM allows it to detect signals that would be buried in the noise of conventional detectors."
He adds, "Thus, it is now possible to achieve protein structural resolution in the home lab that previously would be available only at a synchrotron beamline."
According to Bruker, the AXIOM features zero readout dead-time, again distinguishing it from older detector technologies. By eliminating readout dead-time, the AXIOM is the imaging detector to support "continuous scans" where the goniostat is scanned without stopping between frames, as is necessary with conventional detectors.
This eliminates the mechanical jitter associated with goniostat acceleration and shutter timing, and thus can improve the crystallography data quality even further.
Dr. Matthew Benning, Bruker AXS Senior Applications Scientist, stated: "Its ultra-high sensitivity and zero readout dead-time allow the AXIOM to acquire data much faster than conventional analog detector technologies."
He adds, "This makes the AXIOM the ideal detector for many high-throughput crystallography applications, including protein screening and ligand-binding studies."
The AXIOM also features a large active area of 200 mm diameter together with high spatial resolution which is designed to allow large protein crystal unit cells to be resolved.
According to Susan Byram, Ph.D., Bruker AXS U.S. Crystallography Sales Manager, "The AXIOM is a powerful new high-end addition to our biological detector options which already include the market-leading Platinum™ CCD X-ray detector."
He adds, "With its unique combination of large active area, high spatial resolution, zero readout dead-time and outstanding quantum-limited sensitivity, the AXIOM 200 delivers dramatic improvements in structural proteomics data quality and productivity."
Bruker claims that, unlike older and inherently noisier analog detectors like image plates, which are unable to detect low-level X-ray signals, the AXIOM has essentially zero detector noise, and is able to record each individual X-ray photon as it strikes the detector.
Dr. Roger Durst, Chief Technology Officer for Bruker AXS, commented: "The unprecedented sensitivity of the AXIOM allows it to detect signals that would be buried in the noise of conventional detectors."
He adds, "Thus, it is now possible to achieve protein structural resolution in the home lab that previously would be available only at a synchrotron beamline."
According to Bruker, the AXIOM features zero readout dead-time, again distinguishing it from older detector technologies. By eliminating readout dead-time, the AXIOM is the imaging detector to support "continuous scans" where the goniostat is scanned without stopping between frames, as is necessary with conventional detectors.
This eliminates the mechanical jitter associated with goniostat acceleration and shutter timing, and thus can improve the crystallography data quality even further.
Dr. Matthew Benning, Bruker AXS Senior Applications Scientist, stated: "Its ultra-high sensitivity and zero readout dead-time allow the AXIOM to acquire data much faster than conventional analog detector technologies."
He adds, "This makes the AXIOM the ideal detector for many high-throughput crystallography applications, including protein screening and ligand-binding studies."
The AXIOM also features a large active area of 200 mm diameter together with high spatial resolution which is designed to allow large protein crystal unit cells to be resolved.
According to Susan Byram, Ph.D., Bruker AXS U.S. Crystallography Sales Manager, "The AXIOM is a powerful new high-end addition to our biological detector options which already include the market-leading Platinum™ CCD X-ray detector."
He adds, "With its unique combination of large active area, high spatial resolution, zero readout dead-time and outstanding quantum-limited sensitivity, the AXIOM 200 delivers dramatic improvements in structural proteomics data quality and productivity."
