All living things are composed of one or more cells. For example, it is known that humans consist of 60,000,000,000,000 cells. Like a car in a city, each cell has an individual purpose/function, respectively.

However, there is a clear difference between cars and cells. Cars cannot double, or repair themselves, but cells can divide (to become two cells) and can also be repaired with the correct signalling mechanisms, and energy supply. Such a difference comes from the large number of components, and the huge diversity in the combination of components. In general, a car contains 4000 types of components, but a human cell contains at least 20,000-30,000 types of components. We believe that the structural studies of these components are indispensable for the elucidation of the mechanisms of such a complicated system.

Cells are mainly composed of proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, and lipids. These kinds of components are usually around the order of nanometres in size. In order to visualise the 3D-structure of these components at atomic resolution, we primarily use a technique called X-ray crystallography, and for lower resolution we often perform small angle X-ray scattering.

• for producing better X-ray
• for producing better crystals and samples
• for revealing the mechanisms of biological phenomena, based on 3-D structure information