International
Tables for
Crystallography
Volume C
Mathematical, physical and chemical tables
Edited by E. Prince

International Tables for Crystallography (2006). Vol. C. ch. 3.4, pp. 169-170

Section 3.4.2.6. Setting and orientation for crystals with large unit cells using oscillation geometry

P. F. Lindleya

a ESRF, Avenue des Martyrs, BP 220, F-38043 Grenoble CEDEX, France

3.4.2.6. Setting and orientation for crystals with large unit cells using oscillation geometry

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The use of the screenless rotation technique is now routine as a method for large-molecule data collection (Arndt & Wonacott, 1977[link]; Usha et al., 1984[link]). In general, the setting of the crystal for data-collection purposes does not need to be precise, although efficient data collection may dictate that a particular direct axis is set along the rotation axis (Munshi & Murthy, 1986[link]), and subsequent data processing may be simpler. An accurate knowledge of the crystal orientation relative to the axial system of the camera is, however, absolutely essential for the final data processing.

Historically, determination of the crystal setting was normally undertaken using `still' photographs (see Subsection 3.4.2.5[link]) and the final orientation then determined from two such photographs taken orthogonally (Jones, Bartels & Schwager, 1977[link]; Rossmann & Erickson, 1983[link]). In order to minimize the problem of radiation damage, various graphical methods were then devised for determining the precise setting without the need to record `still' images (Dumas & Ripp, 1986[link]; Moews, Sakamaki & Knox, 1986[link]; Sarma, McKeever, Gallo & Scuderi, 1986[link]). Vriend, Rossmann, Arnold, Luo, Griffith & Moffat (1986[link]) reported a `post-refinement' technique in which the intensities of partially recorded reflections on oscillation images are compared with their full intensities observed elsewhere on the same or a different image. The degree of partiality is dependent on the crystal orientation so that this provides a very sensitive method of refining the setting parameters (cell parameters, crystal mosaicity and X-ray beam characteristics may also be refined). In a further development, Vriend & Rossmann (1987[link]) described how to determine the orientation from a single oscillation photograph. The method was again devised for crystals that have short lifetimes in the X-ray beam and is based on correlating the unique set of calculated normals to reciprocal-lattice planes with the observed zone axes on the oscillation image.

Currently, auto-indexing procedures based on a single still/oscillation image or preferably several images well separated in reciprocal space are used to determine the precise crystal setting prior to data processing. Kim (1989[link]) has devised an auto-indexing algorithm based on methods previously developed for four-circle diffractometers (e.g. Sparks, 1976[link]). The algorithm includes ab initio cell-parameter and orientation-matrix determination, followed by reduced-cell calculation and transformation of the reduced cell to one of higher symmetry, where appropriate. Kim's method does require, however, that the diffraction image is large enough to display many lunes. Higashi (1990[link]) has also developed an auto-indexing program for single and or multiple still/oscillation images. The very effective auto-indexing routine of Kabsch (1988a[link], 1993[link]) has been incorporated into the XDS program suite (Kabsch, 1988b[link]).

Several types of area-detector diffractometer have been developed for fast and accurate measurement of intensity data for macromolecular crystals. Crystal alignment and general strategies for typical devices are described by Xuong, Nielsen, Hamlin & Anderson (1985[link]), Messerschmidt & Pflugrath (1987[link]), Higashi (1989[link]), and Sato et al. (1992[link]).

References

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First citation Higashi, T. (1989). The processing of diffraction data taken on a screenless Weissenberg camera for macromolecular crystallography. J. Appl. Cryst. 22, 9–18.Google Scholar
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First citation Jones, A., Bartels, K. & Schwager, P. (1977). Refinement of crystal orientation parameters. The rotation method, edited by U. W. Arndt & A. Wonacott, pp. 105–117. Amsterdam/New York/Oxford: North-Holland. Google Scholar
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First citation Xuong, Ng. H., Nielsen, C., Hamlin, R. & Anderson, D. (1985). Strategy for data collection from protein crystals using a multiwire counter area detector diffractometer. J. Appl. Cryst. 18, 342–350.Google Scholar








































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