Abstract

We are interested in the use of electron microscopy for applications in structural biology. Our current research activities include (1) single-particle structure analysis of large, multi-protein complexes, which is part of LBNL ’s “Protein Complex Analysis Project (PCAP)”, and (2) development of the novel technology of Zernike phase contrast in transmission electron microscopy. Applications of in-focus phase contrast in electron microscopy will include (1) extending the scope of single-particle structure analysis to protein complexes as small as 200 kDa or less, (2) greatly improved morphological characterization of the “deconstruction” process of lignocellulosic materials by cryo-EM tomography, and (3) structural studies of membrane proteins within a “native-like” lipid bilayer environment, using single-particle reconstruction for purified proteins after reconstitution into lipid bilayers.