BIFI-TALK: James Krieger. CNB-CSIC, Madrid

Title: A Perspective on CryoEM, Heterogeneity and Dynamics

Abstract

Proteins are dynamic objects that change their shape (conformation) and move around and interact with other molecules (composition) to carry out functions. Cryogenic electron microscopy (CryoEM) is a valuable technique for capturing the resulting heterogeneity, thanks to many developments in hardware and software.

Nevertheless, understanding dynamics and function from CryoEM is still a challenge. The last few years has seen a second revolution in image processing to handle heterogeneity in new ways, driven by developments in machine learning.Many new approaches have been tried, giving the field much to think about.

I will reflect on the challenges of analysing CryoEM images and the successes and limitations achieved with new heterogeneity methods, focusing on two methods developed in our lab: Zernike3D and HetSIREN.

I will give examples based on synthetic data, widely used public data sets and specific systems that we have studied, particularly the coronavirus Spike protein.

Thursday, 11 February 2025, 12:30 h
Conference Room. Edificio I+D