We are thrilled with the Rigaku X-ray generator and Saturn CCD detector combination in our X-ray Core Facility at the University of Puerto Rico.

Recently, we were able to collect 1.09 Å data on our Rigaku system that allowed us to see the conformational changes that take place in blackfin tuna myoglobin upon S-nitrosylation (Journal of Biological Chemistry, 282 (2007) 19773).

This post-translational protein modification is extremely sensitive to X-ray radiation, so we were not able to collect synchrotron data and had to use our home source. The sensitivity of the Saturn CCD detector allowed us to minimize the exposure times and still collect atomic resolution data that was necessary to deconvolute multiple conformations of the S-nitrosylated cysteine.

—Dr. Eric R. Schreiter
Director, X-ray Crystallography Core Facility
Protein Research and Development Center
University of Puerto Rico