Cryo-electron microscopy equipment for structure determination of macromolecular and cellular assemblies. (360G-Wellcome-079605_Z_06_Z)

Our aim is to perform the structure/function analysis of macromolecular machines, including molecular chaperones, transcription regulators, membrane channels, bacterial secretion systems, viral replication systems and cytoskeletal motors. We already have well-established research programmes using single particle analysis and helical reconstruction. We are requesting astate-of-the-art cryo-electron microscope so that we can remain at the forefront of this field of structural biology and also extend our work to include tomography of large assemblies and cellular structures. The overall goal is to relate macromolecular structure to biological function in the cell.The challenge is to integrate our structural results with studies of higher order functional assemblies in the context of the cell. With a substantial increase in cryo-EM expertise and activity at Birkbeck (two new EM groups and increased participation of crystallography groups since the award of a JIF infrastructure grant in 2000), we now wish to acquire equipment for electron tomography, automation and high-resolution single particle cryo EM. This equipment will enable us to take advantage of developments in automation, improve resolution and throughput and expand our capabilities in cell biology.