The Southeastern Center for Microscopy of Macromolecular Machines (SECM4)

摘要 佛罗里达州立大学东南大分子机器显微镜中心(SECM4) 大学(FSU)将成为一个服务中心，使样品制备和低温电子成为可能 用于高分辨率生物分子结构测定的样品的显微(冷冻-EM)成像。 该中心将由斯科特·斯塔格博士和肯尼思·泰勒博士领导，并将有两名工作人员 拥有免费的专业知识。这将是第二代SECM4。第一代 为低温电磁专家提供高分辨率的低温电磁数据收集。在新一代的 SECM4，我们正在通过抵消收集高分辨率的成本来扩大资源的范围 为所有用户提供显微镜上的数据，只需支付很低的使用费，并通过提供大量 提供新服务，包括低温EM样品优化、样品制备、样品筛选、 高分辨率数据收集，常规单粒子数据分析，以及对低温所有方面的培训- EM从样品制备到加工。我们将把大东南部的用户定位为客户 对于中心来说，特别是专注于扩展到没有受益的服务不足的想法州 由于作为进入壁垒的超高成本，目前低温EM的爆炸性增长。我们的 该方法将实现非凡的规模经济，因为我们将：1)使大学的用户 在不进行数百万美元投资的情况下横跨东南部进入低温EM油田 仪器，2)通过提供筛查和样本优化服务，我们将解决 目前低温EM最大的瓶颈是制备将重建的低温EM样品 到高分辨率，3)通过提供面对面培训和抵消旅行成本，我们将实现 感兴趣的用户可以进入低温电磁领域，而不必寻求与 已经饱和的低温电磁专家。

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.