Research Interest

Structural Electron Microscopy

The Structural Electron Microscopy Team focuses on the use of electron microscopy and image analysis based methods to determine the three-dimensional structure and explain the function of large multi protein complexes. 

It is generally difficult to determine the structures of such complexes by standard crystallographic or NMR techniques since they are large and are frequently only available in small amounts and at limited concentrations. 

Structural analysis by electron microscopy and image analysis requires significant less quantity of purified protein and at considerably lower concentrations than these techniques. Furthermore, local labelling or analysis of sub-complexes can be used to identify individual components. 

Atomic resolution structures or models of smaller components can be docked into structures of the complete assembly obtained by electron microscopy in order to create a high resolution representation of the whole complex. 

Finally, by analysing complexes in different functional states, as for instance obtained by the binding of ligands or protein partners, it is possible to build collections of snapshots that together reveal the functional dynamics of such complexes.