General overview

The Cryo-EM Laboratory focusses on the architectural characterization of macromolecular complexes as targets for a deeper understanding of the molecular bases of disease; as a result of such structural investigations, the mechanisms of drug action can be dissected, and the design of innovative drugs carried over. Pivotal to the experimental investigations carried out in the lab is the installation of a new FEI Talos Arctica 200 kV FEG electron microscope equipped with a state-of-the-art FEI Falcon 3EC direct electron detector and Volta Phase-plate. The Cryo-EM Lab also benefits from a dedicated sample preparation room to ensure the highest specimen quality and a GPU-based computing cluster for efficient and hustle-free data analysis. The Cryo-EM Lab aims at unraveling the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of large molecular machines at sub-nanometer resolution. The installation, the first of this kind in Italy, is supported by the University of Milano and by Fondazione Invernizzi.

Description of the service(s) offered

The cryo-electron microscopy lab provides expertise, methods and experimental approaches in the field of structural biology. Through biochemical, biophysical and single particle cryo EM approaches, we tackle the three-dimensional structures of proteins and nucleic acids, particularly when these are assembled in large multicomponent complexes. Our methods focus on targets that are relevant for biomed applications; however, single particle cryo EM can approach almost any macromolecular system that can be isolated and purified in microgram amounts.

 

Description of available equipment

• FEI Talos Arctica 200 kV FEG electron microscope equipped with a state-of-the-art FEI Falcon 3EC direct electron detector and Volta Phase-plate

• FEI Vitrobot Mk IV

• GloQube Glow Discharge System for TEM Grids and Surface Modifications

For service fee and costs

http://www.crcpediatrico.org/gruppo-bolognesi.html

For more information contact martino.bolognesi@unimi.it