U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Three Dimensional Reconstruction of Immunocomplexes from Images of Single Particles

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This three-year award supports U.S.-France cooperative research in biophysics between Joachim Frank from the New York State Department of Health in Albany and Jean Lamy at the University of Tours. The objective of their research is to develop a methodology for localizing binding sites of antibodies on immunocomplexes. Specifically, they will work on mapping antigenic epitopes in A. Hemocyanin molecules. The methodology involves using electron microscopy and three dimensional reconstruction techniques. Dr. Frank and his group bring to this collaboration innovative technology for image reconstruction. The Albany Lab has developed a large specialized software system for three-dimension imaging of macromolecules and two-dimensional maps. This is complemented by the French laboratory's extensive experience in immunochemistry and protein chemistry of A. Hemocyanin. In addition the project will benefit from their previous collaboration on three-dimensional reconstruction. The use of this model system is of great interest to researchers in macromolecular chemistry. The proposed techniques will facilitate the mapping of binding sites of macromolecules, which cannot be crystallized and are too large for conventional x-ray crystallography. The knowledge gained from this project will be beneficial to researchers in biochemistry and molecular biology.