We are pleased to announce that the research project entitled "High pressure studies of protein structure on the SOLCRYS beam line at the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Center" has been qualified for funding within the PRELUDIUM BIS grant competition for research carried out by Ph.D students at doctoral schools! This decision makes it possible to open a position for a Ph.D student at the Doctoral School of Exact and Life Sciences.

Within the PRELUDIUM BIS grant competition, announced by the National Science Center on September 15, 2020, a project of a member of the SOLARIS staff, Prof. Dr. Maciej Kozak, creator and warden of the newly emerging SOLCRYS beamline, has been qualified.

The project entitled " High pressure studies of protein structure on the SOLCRYS beam line at the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Center" will aim to investigate the behavior of selected model proteins (xylanase, glucose isomerase) under high pressure, in both crystal and solution. The structures of these proteins have already been known, but the planned high-pressure studies of these structures are new. Proteins will be crystallized and based on the obtained crystals, diffraction experiments at high pressures (up to 2 GPa) using synchrotron radiation will be carried out. The obtained diffraction data will be used to solve and refine their crystal structures. Parallel to diffraction studies, analyzes of the structure of these proteins in a solution under high pressure will be carried out using the technique of small-angle scattering of synchrotron radiation. This will allow to investigate the potential structural changes in xylanase and glucose isomerase occurring in solution. Diffraction and SAXS experiments will be conducted both on beamlines in European synchrotrons and at the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Center in Krakow.

Currently, the SOLCRYS beamline, being under construction at SOLARIS synchrotron, is dedicated to protein diffraction (PX) and small-angle synchrotron radiation scattering (SAXS) measurements. The SOLCRYS beamline will also be able to study the structure of bio-macromolecules at high pressures. As part of the planned SAXS and PX measurements provided for in this project, it will be possible to verify the research capabilities of the SOLCRYS beamline.

Granting funding for this project gives the opportunity to employ a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Exact and Life Sciences. You can read more about the Doctoral School here.