Electron Microscopy

Electron Microscopy Group  

 

The electron microscopy (EM) group focuses on the structure determination of complex macro-molecular assemblies by transmission electron microscopy.

The main study objects are membrane proteins. Most of these proteins and involved in photosynthesis and bio-energetics or function in transport processes.

We study several relatively small proteins by means of a technique known as electron crystallography. Such proteins are purified and two-dimensionally crystallized, before EM and data processing steps are performed.
 
Larger complexes are mainly studied by non-crystallographic methods. These proteins are (partially) purified and their single particle EM images are processed.

For these investigations we often use cryo-electron microscopy: objects are embedded in a thin amorphous layer of ice, which preserves their ultra-structure. These techniques are also very useful for investigating the ultra-structure of lipid vesicles in aqueous suspensions, a third topic of the EM group.