96047 - Crystallography and Cryo-Election Microscopy for Protein Structure Determination

Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Molecular and Cell Biology (cod. 5825)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the student acquires the basic knowledge necessary for the determination of the structure of biological macromolecules at atomic level, using the most current structural techniques such as X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. The student has developped the skills for a critical evaluation of the use of these techniques and to interpret the results of a structural investigation of biological macromolecules using crystallography or Cryo-EM.

Course contents

  • Course organisation and introduction to biocrystallography;
  • Crystallisation of biological macromolecules: basic principles of crystallisation, properties of crystals of biological macromolecules and main techniques for crystallisation of biological macromolecules;
  • Crystal symmetry of biological macromolecules;
  • X-ray diffraction: physical principles and Bragg's law;
  • X-ray sources: conventional generators and synchrotron;
  • Phase problem in crystallography and methods for structural resolution of proteins;
  • Structure validation and deposit in the Protein Data Bank;
  • Examples of crystal protein structures;
  • Basic principles of electron microscopy (EM);
  • Comparison of X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM in the determination of structures of biological macromolecules;
  • Electron microscope;
  • Sample preparation and data collection;
  • Image analysis and structural resolution;
  • Examples of cryo-EM structures of biological macromolecules.

Readings/Bibliography

Slide and teaching material is made available in the Virtuale platform.


Teaching methods

Classroom lectures will be given

Assessment methods

An oral exam will evaluate the students ability on theoretical and practical knowledge in the course subjects

Teaching tools

Videoprojector and PC. Power point presentations used during the lessons and any research material will be provided to the students in electronic format.

Office hours

See the website of Simona Fermani