3D structure determination using electron diffraction.
The electron diffraction technique MicroED can be used to determine structures of proteins and chemical compounds in the form of micro-sized crystals. With cryo-TEM instruments, the electron diffraction can be recorded for small crystals down to only tens of a nanometer in thickness, which can be essential in cases where larger crystals are hard to obtain. Chemical substances, small molecular drugs, peptides, natural products, membrane-bound proteins, and large biological complexes represent examples of samples where MicroED gained structural insights. It can also be used for a complete structural analysis of small molecule powders, including mixtures.
For macromolecules, this crystallographic technique is complementary to X-ray and Neutron crystallography from the optimal size regimes of the crystals needed and also due to the detectability of light atoms. Protein structures could be determined from non-visible, thin or needle-shaped crystals. MicroED does not require cryo-protectant, which can be advantageous when crystal freezing is difficult.
Please apply for project support here: https://www.umu.se/en/research/infrastructure/umea-centre-for-electron-microscopy-ucem/access-and-booking/).
UCEM supports MicroED for academic and industrial research projects. Industrial users new to MicroED, please contact the staff below for information on supported workflow.
