Manacá – LNLS

The MANACÁ Group is responsible for the management and operation of the MANACÁ beamline of the synchrotron light source Sirius, at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS).

The MANACÁ beamline is dedicated to macromolecular crystallography for the study of three-dimensional structures of macromolecules, particularly complex arrangements such as viruses, membrane proteins, and protein-ligand complexes.

The group’s main objective is to provide specialized support in all stages of the macromolecule diffraction experiment, from sample preparation to processing, validation and interpretation of the data obtained on the beamline. In addition, the group works in the development of instrumentation for diffraction experiments, more efficient data collection protocols and data processing routines, focusing on the automation of all processes.

Currently, the group’s focus is on completing the commissioning of the MANACÁ beamline as well as developing new ways of presenting samples for multiple-crystal crystallography.

Manacá Beamline

MANACÁ (MAcromolecular micro and NAnoCrystAllography) is the first macromolecular crystallography beamline of Sirius and is optimized for micrometric and sub-micrometric focus. The project includes two experimental stations with beams of 10×7 to 100×80 micrometers (micro station) and 0.5×0.5 micrometers (nano station). The micro station is operating and is dedicated to studies of the three-dimensional structures of macromolecules and small molecules. The small and intense beam of Sirius allows the study of challenging structures such as viruses, protein-protein complexes, protein-ligand and natural products. Room temperature and remote experiments are available.

Manacá Beamline

Coordination