A cryo-electron microscope for structural biology, including single-particle and tomography, at KCL.

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The characterization of biomolecules, and proteins in particular, at the molecular level, is critical for the fundamental understanding of biological processes, as well as for new drug development. In particular, the capacity to determine the atomic details of how such proteins interact (between proteins, but also with DNA, lipids, sugars, drugs etc.), or how their architecture changes during their activity, is essential to decipher their function.In recent years, Electron microscopy has become the main method to obtain such molecular information, as highlighted by the 2017 Nobel prize in Chemistry to the pioneers of the methodology. We seek to acquire such an electron microscope, which will permit KCL to gain the capacity to make use of this emerging technology. This instrument will permit us to not only to develop our existing research at KCL, but will also be instrumental to develop new avenues of research, and for the training of the next generation of biomolecular scientists. In addition, a central aspect of the instrument we seek to purchase, is that it allows not only to gain molecular details of proteins in isolation, but also to observe them in the context of their biological function. This will permit us to bridge our studies across scales, from molecules to cells. In particular, we will use this equipment extensively in our research efforts to understand proteins involved in bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance, viral pathogenesis (including SARS-CoV-2), cancer and tumour pathogenesis, and cardiovascular diseases.