How cryo-EM is revolutionizing structural biology – ScienceDirect
The Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) has developed a cost-effective cryo–electron microscope, potentially revolutionizing structural biology. Traditional cryo-EM, while powerful, faces accessibility issues due to its expensive equipment and maintenance costs. LMB’s prototype, described as a “cheap little hatchback,” offers similar capabilities at one-tenth of the cost, aiming for a $500,000 price tag. The machine’s affordability could democratize structural biology, allowing more researchers to access the technology.
The LMB team’s key innovation involves using a lower electron beam energy (100 KeV) compared to high-end models, reducing costs and eliminating the need for expensive gases. The prototype demonstrated its efficiency by swiftly mapping 11 diverse proteins, including the benchmark apoferritin, at a resolution of 2.6 angstroms. This resolution, though not breaking records, is sufficient for creating atomic models. The quick turnaround time, with structures determined in less than a day, addresses the time-consuming nature of traditional cryo-EM processes.
While existing alternatives like Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Tundra have made cryo-EM more accessible, LMB’s innovations may further reduce costs. The challenge lies in convincing manufacturers to invest in commercializing this design, potentially transforming cryo-EM accessibility for researchers and institutions.
#CryoEMRevolution #StructuralBiology #AffordableScience #ProteinMapping #InnovationInResearch