The Southeastern Center for Microscopy of Macromolecular Machines (SECM4)

摘要 东南大分子机器显微镜中心（SECM 4），位于佛罗里达州 大学（FSU）将是一个服务中心，将使样品制备和低温电子 用于高分辨率生物分子结构测定的样品显微镜（cryo-EM）成像。 该中心将由斯科特·斯塔格博士和肯尼斯·泰勒博士领导， 提供专业知识。这将是SECM 4的第二代。第一代 为冷冻电镜专家提供了高分辨率的冷冻电镜数据收集。在新一代的 SECM 4，我们通过抵消收集高分辨率图像的成本来扩大资源范围 显微镜上的数据，为所有用户提供了一个非常适度的使用费，也通过提供大量的 新的服务，包括冷冻EM标本优化，标本制备，标本筛选， 高分辨率数据收集，常规单粒子数据分析，和培训的所有方面的低温， EM从样品制备到处理。我们将目标用户在大东南部的客户 对于该中心，特别是专注于扩展到服务不足的IDEA州，这些州尚未受益 从目前的爆炸式增长中，由于作为进入壁垒的非凡成本，我们 这种方法将实现特殊的规模经济，因为我们将：1）使大学的用户 在东南部获得进入冷冻EM领域，而无需数百万美元的投资， 仪器，2）通过提供筛选和样本优化服务，我们将解决 目前冷冻电镜的最大瓶颈是冷冻电镜样品的制备， 3）通过提供亲自培训和抵消差旅费用，我们将使 感兴趣的用户进入冷冻EM领域，而不必寻求与 已经饱和的冷冻电镜专家

Abstract The Southeastern Center for Microscopy of MacroMolecular Machines (SECM4), at Florida State University (FSU) will be a service center that will enable sample preparation and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging of specimens for high-resolution biomolecular structure determination. The center will be led by Dr. Scott Stagg and Dr. Kenneth Taylor and will feature two staff members with complimentary expertise. This will be the second generation of the SECM4. The first generation provided high-resolution cryo-EM data collection for cryo-EM experts. In the new generation of the SECM4, we are expanding the scope of the resource by offsetting the cost of collecting high-resolution data on the microscope for all users with a very modest usage fee and also by offering a large number of new services including cryo-EM specimen optimization, specimen preparation, specimen screening, high-resolution data collection, routine single particle data analysis, and training for all aspects of cryo- EM from specimen preparation to processing. We will target users in the greater Southeast to be clients for the center, specifically focusing expanding into the underserved IDeA states that have not benefitted from the current explosion in cryo-EM due to the extraordinary costs that serve as an entry barrier. Our approach will enable exceptional economies of scale because we will: 1) enable users at universities across the Southeast to gain entry the cryo-EM field without making multi-million dollar investments in instrumentation, 2) by offering screening and specimen optimization services, we will address the biggest bottleneck in cryo-EM right now, which is preparation of cryo-EM samples that will reconstruct to high-resolution, 3) by offering in person training and offsetting the travel costs, we will enable interested users to gain entry into the field of cryo-EM without having to seek out a collaboration with an already saturated cryo-EM expert.