X-Ray Sources and High-Throughput Data Collection Methods

X-ray diffraction experiments on protein crystals are at the core of the structure determination process. An overview of X-ray sources and data collection methods to support structure-based drug design (SBDD) efforts is presented in this chapter. First, methods of generating and manipulating X-rays for the purpose of protein crystallography, as well as the components of the diffraction experiment setup are discussed. SBDD requires the determination of numerous protein–ligand complex structures in a timely manner, and the second part of this chapter describes how to perform diffraction experiments efficiently on a large number of crystals, including crystal screening and data collection.