Macromolecular X-ray Analysis Hub

The Macromolecular X-ray Analysis Hub, located on the fourth floor of the Bellini Building in the Life Sciences Complex, is a cutting-edge facility supporting macromolecular structure determination through X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Over the past decade, the facility has expanded significantly, catering to a growing community of X-ray crystallographers at McGill.

Key Equipment & Capabilities:

• Two Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Systems – Includes a high-brilliance beam source and a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, offering near-synchrotron performance for crystal screening and full data acquisition.
• Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) – Enables low-resolution structural analysis of macromolecules in solution, providing insight into molecular shape and conformational changes.
• High-Sensitivity CCD Detection – Optimized for low-resolution scattering experiments, ensuring high-quality data acquisition.

This facility supports protein crystallography, structural biology, and macromolecular research, enabling detailed atomic-resolution studies of biomolecules for drug discovery, enzyme mechanics, and protein-ligand interactions.

For McGill lab users, unsupervised access is available at $10/hour. Booking and prior training are required to ensure proper equipment handling.