CM01: a facility for cryo-electron microscopy at the European Synchrotron

Area of Science:

• Structural Biology
• Biophysics
• Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Background:

• Advancements in direct electron detectors, microscopy, and software have significantly improved cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
• This technological progress has spurred the creation of specialized centers for cryo-EM applications in structural biology.
• There is a growing need for dedicated facilities to support high-resolution structural analysis of biological macromolecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a newly commissioned cryo-electron microscopy facility at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF).
• To highlight the facility's focus on single-particle reconstruction for biological macromolecules.
• To detail the operational model and accessibility of this advanced research infrastructure.

Main Methods:

• Commissioning of a new cryo-electron microscopy facility at the ESRF.
• Implementation of single-particle reconstruction techniques for biological macromolecules.
• Management of the facility similar to a synchrotron X-ray beamline.

Main Results:

• The facility has been operational and accessible to the ESRF structural biology user community since November 2017.
• The facility is managed by a consortium of institutes located on the European Photon and Neutron Campus.
• The facility will remain accessible during the 2019 ESRF-EBS shutdown period.

Conclusions:

• The new ESRF facility significantly enhances capabilities for cryo-electron microscopy and single-particle reconstruction.
• This dedicated infrastructure supports cutting-edge structural biology research on biological macromolecules.
• The facility's operational model ensures accessibility and efficient utilization for the scientific community.