Cryogenic Electron Microscopy: Unlocking New Frontiers in Portugal's Science Landscape

Abstract

Cryo-EM is an advanced technique used to image and determine the 3D structures of biological molecules and complexes at near atomic resolution. These structure can be determined of individual molecules (Single Particle Analysis), at the cellular level (Tomography), from small-molecules or protein crystals (microED). Cryo-EM revolutionized Biological Sciences, from single particle analysis of macromolecules and their complexes, tomographic visualization of cellular structures and organelles in their native environment to electron diffraction of microcrystals of small and large molecules.
The CryoEM-PT network aims to provide access to these applications to the National Scientific community working in Life Sciences, with the first step being the installation of a mid-level instrument at the INL in Braga. In this seminar, we will present how Portuguese users can access the national facility, CryoEM-PT, and how the ITQB-Node will assist in preparing samples for CryoEM studies.

Bio

CVRomão investigates prokaryotic stress responses using integrative structural biology, including CryoEM (SPA, Tomography) and X-ray fluorescence imaging. She has been instrumental in establishing the CryoEM-PT and building the PT CryoEM community.

Pedro Matias obtained a Ph.D. in 1986 in Crystallography at the University of Pittsburgh in the U.S.A, and presently heads the Industry and Medicine Applied Crystallography Laboratory at ITQB NOVA and is also the MX Unit Coordinator.