November 2019 - phenixbb - phenix-online.org

RapiData 2020 applications open
by Smith, Clyde 16 Nov '21

16 Nov '21

Applications are now open for the 2020 edition of RapiData at SSRL. RapiData is a practical course in macromolecular X-ray diffraction data collection, data processing and structure solution. The aim of the RapiData course is to educate and train young scientists in data collection and processing methods at synchrotron beamlines, using state-of-the-art software and instrumentation. The course will be held in sunny California at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) located on the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory campus in Menlo Park, CA, from March 30 - April 4 2020. Course organizers for 2020 are Silvia Russi, Clyde Smith and Jeney Wierman. The course will comprise hands-on experiments at the SSRL beamlines, software tutorials, and lectures on the following topics: Specimen preparation, Data collection strategies, X-ray light sources, X-ray detectors, Data reduction, Structure solution by MAD, SAD and Molecular Replacement, Complementary methods (spectroscopy and small angle scattering). Please visit http://smb.slac.stanford.edu/news/rapidata/rapidata-2020/ and use the links on the "registration" page to apply for the course. The application deadline is November 10 2019. Successful applicants will be notified shortly thereafter, and invited to register and book accommodation at the SLAC Guesthouse at that time. A limited amount of travel support funding may be available. Please direct questions to Silvia Russi (srussi(a)slac.stanford.edu), Jeney Wierman (jwierman(a)slac.stanford.edu) or Clyde Smith (csmith(a)slac.stanford.edu).

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First CCP4 Study Weekend illustration competition
by Jon Agirre 16 Dec '19

16 Dec '19

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the opening of the first CCP4 Study Weekend illustration competition, made possible by CCP4’s long standing collaboration with IUCr Journals. Getting your science out to the public requires more than good research. You need to make it memorable! And what better way to do it than with excellent figures? We invite you to make a figure that tells a structural biology story in a creative and informative way. The submitted figures will be showcased during the Study Weekend at several locations at the conference venue. *Prize* The creator of the winning illustration gets to design the cover illustration of the Study Weekend’s proceedings to be published early 2021. Apart from this commission there may be another (sur)prize. *Format* Illustrations, along with a short description of content and methods used, are to be sent to jon.agirre(a)york.ac.uk before December 15th 2019. Images must have a resolution of 1920x1080 (16:9) in order to fit the format of the screens and main room projector. Any combination of graphics and (if any) post-processing software may be used, as long as details are given with the submission. The format of the illustration should be PNG. *Judges* As you may know, Dr Jeroen Claus (founder of Phospho Biomedical Animation) will give the closing talk at the 2020 edition of the CCP4 Study Weekend. He, along with Louise Jones (managing editor of Acta Crystallographica sections D & F) will judge the submitted figures based on their graphical quality as well as their ability to convey a complex structural message clearly. *Decision* The winner will be announced on January 8th at the dinner - before the céilidh. Up to date information and registration: http://www.cvent.com/d/fyq0g9/4K?cpc=FCNF5V7H4B4 Looking forward to receiving your images! Jon Agirre, Alan Roseman, Robbie Joosten and Karen McIntyre -- Dr Jon Agirre Royal Society University Research Fellow York Structural Biology Laboratory / Department of Chemistry University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, York, UK http://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/research/ysbl/people/staff/jagirre/ Office: /B/K/065 Phone: +44 (0) 1904 32 8252 Twitter: @glycojones

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15 PhD scholarships in Braunschweig, Germany
by Blankenfeldt, Wulf 29 Nov '19

29 Nov '19

Dear colleagues & prospective Ph.D. students, The Technische Universität Braunschweig in collaboration with Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences currently initiate the doctoral program "Drug Discovery and Cheminformatics for New Anti-Infectives (iCA)" which is granted by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony. The program aims at studying fundamental principles of drug discovery by combining life sciences and digital sciences. The iCA consortium is offering 15 Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg scholarships (duration: 3 years). The program of the iCA consortium offers an ambitious, structured and interdisciplinary training based on top-level fundamental research. This joint program provides an internationally competitive research environment with state-of-the-art facilities. The participating groups use a variety of different methods, including experimental, digital, and theoretical approaches. More information about specific projects and participating groups can be found at: https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/en/pharmchem/translate-to-english-promotions… The graduate program starts in the period from February to July 2020. For details and individual project descriptions please refer to the scholarship announcement attached. If you have any questions, please contact pvz-apply(a)tu-braunschweig.de<mailto:[email protected]>. The program is open for applications now. Applications should include letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, certificates, etc. combined in a single PDF file (max. 15 MB). Please send your application to pvz-apply(a)tu-braunschweig.de<mailto:[email protected]> until 31 December, 2019. Please forward these information to interested colleagues. Kind regards, Wulf Blankenfeldt ________________________________ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH | Inhoffenstraße 7 | 38124 Braunschweig | www.helmholtz-hzi.de Vorsitzende des Aufsichtsrates: Frau MinDir'in Prof. Dr. Veronika von Messling Stellvertreter: MinDirig Rüdiger Eichel, Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Dirk Heinz; Silke Tannapfel Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH) Sitz der Gesellschaft: Braunschweig Handelsregister: Amtsgericht Braunschweig, HRB 477

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Position at Diamond: XChem Beamline Scientist
by Frank Von Delft 29 Nov '19

29 Nov '19

Dear all, We are recruiting as permanent position a Beamline Scientist on the XChem fragment screening facility at Diamond. This role is to join the XChem team to support academic and industrial users with experiments and service work, co-manage the XChem lab, develop new fragment-related methodologies, and over next few years, work on expanding the XChem offering beyond hit identification. If you are a technically-minded crystallographer that enjoys teaching or training people, like an organised life, thrive on collaboration and like to see how you're making others productive, you will enjoy this job. Besides, Diamond is incredibly collegial and has a terrific user community. The ad is here: https://vacancies.diamond.ac.uk/vacancy/xchem-beamline-scientist-404499.html (for some reason you may need to click twice on the link to make it work). The application deadline is the 15th Dec 2019, and we wil linterview on 17th Dec (i.e. before Xmas). If you have questions, contact me or Alice Douangamath <Alice.Douangamath(a)diamond.ac.uk><mailto:[email protected]>, who heads the facility. Frank -- Frank von Delft Professor for Structural Chemical Biology Principal Beamline Scientist: I04-1 Diamond Light Source +44 1235 778997 (office: M,T,T) +44 7471 026103 (mobile) Principal Investigator: Protein Crystallography Structural Genomics Consortium Oxford University +44 1865 617583 (office: W,F)

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Re: [phenixbb] Real space refine of long side chains
by Leonid Sazanov 27 Nov '19

27 Nov '19

Hi, We have addressed exactly this problem by writing a script, in which B-factors are refined first and only then real-space refinement happens. This allows disordered side-chains to acquire high B-factors and so they are not pulled into backbone anymore. This cycle is repeated twice to achieve convergence. Parameters for B-factor refinement (ADP restrains) were optimized to account for consistent lack of density for acidic side chains in cryoEM. It is described in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31492636 If needed, I can send a script. Best Leonid -- Prof. Leonid Sazanov FRS IST Austria Am Campus 1 A-3400 Klosterneuburg Austria Phone: +43 2243 9000 3026 E-mail: sazanov(a)ist.ac.at Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2019 19:11:16 +0000 From: Luca Pellegrini <lp212(a)cam.ac.uk> To: PHENIX user mailing list <phenixbb(a)phenix-online.org> Subject: [phenixbb] Real space refine of long side chains Message-ID: <37F0D7B2-3C9E-4FE1-B0BF-6B23F0D8925B(a)cam.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I have noticed that real-space refinement in cryoEM maps has a tendency to pull long disordered side chains (Lys, Glu etc) back towards main chain density, resulting in unrealistic hairpin-like bent conformations. Is there a way to counter or moderate this behaviour? It would save me from having to manually straighten them all out again afterwards... Best wishes, Luca Luca Pellegrini, PhD Department of Biochemistry University of Cambridge Cambridge CB2 1GA United Kingdom lp212(a)cam.ac.uk tel.: 0044 1223 760469 https://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/pellegrini-group/pellegrini-group @PellegriniLab

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Group ADP refinement restraints
by Taylor Stevens 26 Nov '19

26 Nov '19

Hello, I am currently refining a low-ish resolution structure (through the phenix.refine GUI) with phenix version 1.14 and had some questions about the use of restraints in group ADP refinement. In the phenix.refine documentation (https://www.phenix-online.org/documentation/reference/refinement.html#refin… <https://www.phenix-online.org/documentation/reference/refinement.html#refin…>) it is stated that “Group isotropic ADP or TLS refinement do not use any restraints”, however, this does not seem to be the case. If I look in the log file I can see the following lines of text which I believe indicate that the restraints are being applied: |-group b-factor refinement (macro cycle = 0; iterations = 0)————————| | r_work = 0.3331 r_free = 0.3717 target = 5.823062 restraints weight = None | |——————————————————————————————————————| |-group b-factor refinement (macro cycle = 1; iterations = 22)————————| | r_work = 0.3331 r_free = 0.3717 target = 5.823062 restraints weight = 821.871| |——————————————————————————————————————| |-group b-factor refinement (macro cycle = 2; iterations = 22)————————| | r_work = 0.3331 r_free = 0.3717 target = 5.823062 restraints weight = 821.871| |——————————————————————————————————————| |-group b-factor refinement (macro cycle = 3; iterations = 22)————————| | r_work = 0.3331 r_free = 0.3717 target = 5.823062 restraints weight = 821.871| |——————————————————————————————————————| If I manually set the wu parameter to 0 under “Refinement target weights" nothing changes, however, if I navigate to "All parameters > ADP settings > Group B-Factors" in the GUI there is a “Use restraints” box that is checked by default. If I uncheck this box, there are no longer any restraints being applied according to the log file, and in the case of the structure I am refining, there is a substantial drop in the rfree/rwork. Is this an issue with the program or documentation? Or am I misunderstanding how the program is supposed to work? Is it generally a good idea to use group ADP refinement without restraints? Thanks, Taylor

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Real space refine of long side chains
by Luca Pellegrini 25 Nov '19

25 Nov '19

I have noticed that real-space refinement in cryoEM maps has a tendency to pull long disordered side chains (Lys, Glu etc) back towards main chain density, resulting in unrealistic hairpin-like bent conformations. Is there a way to counter or moderate this behaviour? It would save me from having to manually straighten them all out again afterwards... Best wishes, Luca Luca Pellegrini, PhD Department of Biochemistry University of Cambridge Cambridge CB2 1GA United Kingdom lp212(a)cam.ac.uk tel.: 0044 1223 760469 https://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/pellegrini-group/pellegrini-group @PellegriniLab

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Software developer role at Diamond Light Source
by Hall, Dave (DLSLtd,RAL,LSCI) 25 Nov '19

25 Nov '19

Dear all We currently have a role for a software developer to work with the MX group at Diamond Light Source (www.diamond.ac.uk/mx<http://www.diamond.ac.uk/mx>). The successful candidate will work with scientific staff and software developers to enable experiments across the diverse suite of MX beamlines. For details of the role and how to apply see here https://vacancies.diamond.ac.uk/vacancy/data-acquisition-scientist-for-stru… Best regards Dave Hall MX Group Diamond Light Source -- This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential, copyright and or privileged material, and are for the use of the intended addressee only. If you are not the intended addressee or an authorised recipient of the addressee please notify us of receipt by returning the e-mail and do not use, copy, retain, distribute or disclose the information in or attached to the e-mail. Any opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the individual and not necessarily of Diamond Light Source Ltd. Diamond Light Source Ltd. cannot guarantee that this e-mail or any attachments are free from viruses and we cannot accept liability for any damage which you may sustain as a result of software viruses which may be transmitted in or with the message. Diamond Light Source Limited (company no. 4375679). Registered in England and Wales with its registered office at Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, United Kingdom

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Postdoc position in methods development at LBNL
by Dorothee Liebschner 22 Nov '19

22 Nov '19

Announcing a postdoc position on behalf of Dr. Kanupriya Pande: ======================================================================== Post-doc position in methods development in the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging division at LBL. The overall objectives of the project are to develop theory and computation to extract conformational heterogeneity and disorder from diffraction and imaging data. The position is available immediately with an initial appointment for 2 years with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. Qualified candidates must have a PhD in Biophysics, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, or related fields. Job description and how to apply: https://lbl.referrals.selectminds.com/jobs/computational-biologist-postdoc-… ======================================================================== -- Project Scientist, Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road, M/S 33R0345 Berkeley, CA 94720 Tel: (510) 486-5709 Fax: (510) 486-5909 Web: https://phenix-online.org

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Re: [phenixbb] weight optimization in refinement
by Alexei Gorelik 22 Nov '19

22 Nov '19

Thanks! What I meant is, phenix.refine seems to run a number of optimization threads (usually 10-14) independent of the number of cores specified (for example, 4 or 8). If i specify 8 cores, is there a way to force it to run 8 weight optimizations? On Nov 22, 2019 1:24 PM, Pavel Afonine <pafonine(a)lbl.gov> wrote: Hi Alexei, Is there a setting to control the number of parallel weight optimization threads in phenix.refine? nproc parameter controls number of CPUs to be used in weight optimization. Also, is there a way to force phenix.refine to perform global real-space refinement (rsrg)? No. There is some built-in logic, phenix.refine does it when these conditions are met and it can un-do the result if it is not an improvement. Is there particular need to do this in your context? Pavel

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