300kV high-resolution cryo electron microscopie setup

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Cryo-EM has recently transformed the fields of structural biology and cell biology, providing insights into a plethora of intractable challenges in life sciences. True atomic resolution imaging of purified macromolecular machines, as well as mechanistic studies of dynamic complexes directly in their native environment, are now within reach. Münster is a world leading University in the research areas of “Cells Dynamics and Multiscale Imaging” and “Nanoscience”, but currently has no access to cryo-EM. The demand is, however, immense and the success of several research projects and interdisciplinary structural studies are highly dependent on this key methodology. The broad user-base includes groups from the faculties of Medicine, Biology and Chemistry and Pharmacy. To serve the needs of the community, the cryo-EM instrumentation will be optimal for both single particle analysis and cellular cryo-electron tomography workflows and thus cover a very wide range of samples: synthetic nanostructures, purified macromolecular assemblies, membrane proteins, viruses, organelles, whole cells and sections. The requested instrumentation with a 120kV screening TEM, a cryo-Focused-Ion-Beam Microscope with an integrated correlative fluorescence light microscope and a high-end 300kV cryo-TEM equipped with direct detector, energy filter and Volta Phase Plate fulfill these requirements optimally and will be used at their full capacities. The cryo-EM instruments can be installed without any delays at the new interdisciplinary research building “Center for Soft Nanoscience”, which was originally designed to host such instrumentation and already includes a dedicated ultra-modern cryo-EM area. This urgently needed investment will be a central hub and incubator for the development of WWU’s research profiles, as well as a prerequisite to remain competitive in Multiscale Imaging in the international research landscape.