Structural biology techniques such as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and cryo-electron microscopy single-particle analysis (cryo-EM SPA) provide unique insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying biological processes and enable structure-based drug discovery for the treatment of human diseases. Here, high-resolution structures of biological molecules are obtained using isolated biomolecules purified in vitro. Until recently, it was difficult to study subcellular compartments in their native cellular environment.
Going a significant step further, a fruitful cross-departmental collaboration between the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus and the Targets and Therapeutics Center (MTTC) facilitated the implementation of a globally emerging, novel technology, called in situ cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) @HelmholtzMunich. Cryo-ET allows the visualization of cellular structures in their natural and functional environment at molecular resolution. This technology is at the heart of the new Helmholtz Munich Cryo-EM Platform (CEMP), which provides complete and state-of the art cryo-EM infrastructures for both in situ cryo-ET and cryo-EM SPA. The new multimillion euro instrumentation covers all workflows of advanced cryo-EM applications and can be employed to study a large variety of research topics – ranging from unraveling molecular mechanisms to the acceleration of new therapeutic approaches. Helmholtz Munich is thus one of few sites globally to leverage and offer the full spectrum of atomic resolution structural technologies, now including state-of-the-art cryo-EM and 1.2 GHz ultra highfield NMR spectroscopy (https://www.bnmrz.org/).
Prof. Michael Sattler, Head of Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center and Director of the Institute of Structural Biology at Helmholtz Munich, comments: “We expect unprecedented insight into the biomolecular structures in their native environment in healthy and disease-linked states and thereby enabling the development of novel therapeutic approaches.”
