About CEITEC
Do you know…
- … the scientists in CEITEC will be researching what happens in the brain when a human has realized that they have made a mistake?
- … there will be nearly 800 scientists in CEITEC?
- … in CEITEC we will be researching how the brain works and why some people are motivated and others are not?
- … thanks to CEITEC most of the diagnostic methods will be cheaper, faster and more comfortable for the patients?
- … 63 research teams will be created in CEITEC?
- … there will be 7 research programmes in CEITEC?
- … there will be more than 1,000 modern instruments in CEITEC?
- … more than 31,000 m2 of new infrastructure will be built in CEITEC?
- … more than 1,500 students will use the CEITEC infrastructure per year?
- … there will be 10 shared laboratories created in CEITEC?
- … CEITEC has 6 partners?
- … work will be carried out on self-cleaning surfaces in CEITEC?
- … CEITEC will co-operate closely with the industrial sector?
- … there will also be international scientists working in CEITEC?
- … CEITEC will support the international mobility of scientists?
- … the scientists in CEITEC are developing a subdermal chip which will analyse some life functions and will inform doctors from a distance?
- … the scientists in CEITEC are working on the development of a device which will enable physiotherapy from a distance?
- … the scientists at CEITEC are working on the development of biosensors?
- … CEITEC will be created in the south-Moravian city of Brno?
Cryo-electron Microscopy and Tomography
Head: To be appointed
Main Activity
Modern electron microscopy in structural biology on the cellular and molecular level is performed by cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography. Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is the only method to address pleiomorphic structures like cells and organelles in a close to native state, while cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is applied to study single particles, primarily larger macromolecular complexes, which have been isolated and purified by biochemical methods. Both methodologies provide information on the cellular and molecular level and are therefore ideal for in-depth structural-functional analysis in combination with state of the art biochemical characterisation. The main activities of the Core Facility will be centred on application of cryo-EM and cryo-ET, implementations of the required image processing capabilities, and explorations of suitable cryo-preparation techniques.
Unique Features
The main objective of the Core Facility is to establish a world-class facility for cryo-electron microscopy accessible also for external users. The centre will provide access to EM instrumentation set up for high-throughput image acquisition for single particle analysis as well as for the acquisition of cellular cryo-electron tomograms. Moreover, it will provide assistance to external users/collaborators in image processing (e.g. 3-D reconstruction, denoising, pattern recognition, segmentation, visualization). External user projects will be selected by peer review on the basis of scientific merit, technical suitability and feasibility. The centre will also offer training enabling non-specialists to develop the necessary skills. The high-end instrumentation and the team of experienced researchers will ensure expert services, user training and the cost-effective use of resources.
Key Equipment (Core Facility fully operational from 2014)
- Transmission high-throughput cryo-electron microscope 300 kV
- Transmission cryo-electron microscope 200 kV
- Equipment for sample preparation
- Vitrification robot
EUROPEAN UNION
