There are a number of unique facilities
available at ORNL in addition to those at CBI and the Center for Computational
Sciences (CCS):
High Flux Isotope Research Reactor (HFIR)
HFIR is an 85 Megawatt isotope production and test reactor with
the capability and facilities for performing a wide variety of
irradiation experiments. HFIR is unique in that it provides one
of the highest steady-state neutron fluxes available in any of
the world's reactors, and neutron currents from the four horizontal
beam tubes are among the highest available. To learn more about
the specific kinds of experimental facilities available, or to
check the facility status, see HFIR.
Spallation Neutron Source (SNS)
SNS is the U.S. Department of Energy’s premiere accelerator-based
neutron source. When completed in 2006, SNS will provide the most
intense pulsed neutron beams in the world for scientific research
and industrial development. More information about this ORNL facility
is available at SNS.
Neutron Scattering
Neutron scattering helps to resolve how the 3-D parts of protein
machines fit together and how proteins communicate in dynamic
regulatory and signaling networks. ORNL will have the Spallation
Neutron Source and the higher-intensity cold neutron source planned
for HFIR as
next-generation instruments. More information about Neutron Scattering, including
a description of how it works and how the technology complements
other techniques can be found through Genomes To Life
Technologies.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
NMR uses high magnetic fields and radio-frequency pulses to
manipulate the spin states of nuclei that have nonzero-spin
angular momentum. The result is an NMR spectrum with peaks whose
positions and intensities reflect the chemical environment and
nucleic positions within the molecule. NMR structures typically
are obtained from proteins in solution, allowing structures to
be determined for proteins that cannot be crystallized. To learn
more, visit the NMR page.
Protein Crystallography
Single-crystal protein X-ray crystallography is an experimental
technique that provides information on the positions of individual
atoms within a biological complex. The detailed picture of a protein
or protein complex is produced by interpreting the diffraction of
X-rays from many identical molecules in an ordered array commonly
referred to as a crystal. A more detailed discussion of this and
other techniques also is available within Genomes To Life
Technologies.
Microfluidics
Developed in the microelectronics industry, these “labs on a chip”
create circuits of tiny chambers and channels in a quartz, silica,
or glass chip. These microfluidic circuits can be designed to
accommodate virtually any analytic biochemical process. Their small
dimensions reduce both processing times and the amount of reagents
necessary for an assay, substantially reducing costs. More details
about this process is described in the Genomes to Life
Technologies.
