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Exploring Macromolecular Interactions at High Resolution Using Electron Cryomicroscopy at NCMI

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2020

M.F. Schmid ,
M. B. Sherman ,
J. Brink ,
J. Jakana ,
M. Kelsey ,
M. Dougherty  and
W. Chiu
M.F. Schmid
Affiliation:
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
M. B. Sherman
Affiliation:
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
J. Brink
Affiliation:
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
J. Jakana
Affiliation:
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
M. Kelsey
Affiliation:
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
M. Dougherty
Affiliation:
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
W. Chiu
Affiliation:
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
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The National Center for Macromolecular Imaging (NCMI) is a resource supported by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) of NIH. Its mission is to advance electron imaging of macromolecular assemblies to near atomic resolution. We have focused on biological assemblies which are too large or too complex to be studied by conventional x-ray crystallography or NMR spectroscopy techniques. As is the case with all the NCRR-supported facilities, we also conduct methodology development, collaboration, service, technology dissemination and training.

The objectives of this Research Resource are to develop the technology of high resolution electron cryomicroscopy of biological macromolecules, assemblies and crystals in an integrated approach that includes specimen preparation, hardware and software development. A current methodology development includes the characterization of the 1k x 1k slow-scan CCD camera for both electron diffraction and imaging of ice-embedded specimens. These studies have defined the advantages and limitations of the CCD camera for electron crystallographic analysis. Another core research project deals with the problems of specimen movement due to the electron beam and/or charging and seeks to minimize these phenomena. Our efforts have resulted in a better understanding of the physics of charging. We have modified a Gatan ion-beam coater so that we can apply a thin layer of carbon onto ice-embedded specimens.

Type
Shared Resources: Access to Critical Instrumentation
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 3 , Issue S2: Proceedings: Microscopy & Microanalysis '97, Microscopy Society of America 55th Annual Meeting, Microbeam Analysis Society 31st Annual Meeting, Histochemical Society 48th Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio, August 10-14, 1997 , August 1997 , pp. 279 - 280
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 1997

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