Metal tagging to identify proteins in electron cryo-microscopy
Electron microscopy shows exquisite ultrastructural detail in imaging biological macromolecules and cells. However it is generally difficult to identify particular molecules or structures except by shape. We have developed a new approach to cryo-microscopy and 3D tomography based on scanning transmission EM (STEM), which is more sensitive to heavy atoms than current phase contrast methods. Depending on the student's background the rotation will emphasize protein chemistry and/or elementary cell biology. For more information see http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v11/n4/full/nmeth.2842.html