Abstract

Electron
cryo-microscopy is an exciting and rapidly evolving technique that routinely
allows researchers to visualise their particle of interest at near-atomic
resolution. Because preparation of cryo-EM samples forgoes the need for
crystallisation, cryo-EM has become a popular alternative for X-ray
crystallography. Instead, particles are flash-frozen in a near-native state and
directly analysed under preservative conditions. As a result, cryo-EM allows
researchers to image and analyse a large size-range of specimen, from proteins
to megadalton complexes and viruses to subcellular structures, while also
generating valuable information regarding flexibility, conformational dynamics,
ligand occupancy, and more.

The
GW4 Facility for High-Resolution Electron Cryo-Microscopy, located at the
University of Bristol, provides on-demand access to state-of-the-art equipment
as well as dedicated technical expertise and services. It is open to
researchers from academia and industry to conduct cryoEM
projects, working towards the realisation of experimental goals and research
interests.