Objectives of the course [Top]

The aim of the course is to teach the basic principles and practical aspects of image processing to bioscientists and structural biologists wishing to determine macromolecular structures by cryo electron microscopy (EM). The course will concentrate on processing of single particle images, and will be aimed at advanced PhD students and postdocs using cryo EM images for structural analysis.

Structural analysis by cryo EM has became a major tool for studying large macromolecular complexes. The use of field emission gun microscopes, imaging of samples at liquid nitrogen temperatures, and developments in image processing have led to improvements in the resolution of single particle structures from 20-30 Å to 6-10 Å. More complex processing is required to extract the higher resolution details.

Cryo EM single particle analysis is an ideal complement to X-ray crystallography and NMR. Fitting of individual structures into cryo EM maps of large assemblies allows the characterization of multi-component interactions, to distinguish different functional states. This hybrid approach is essential for understanding biological mechanisms and is an important addition to structural genomics. New approaches developed for analysis of thin cells and cryo-sections by tomography extend the range of EM from individual complexes to cellular structures in situ.


Course content [Top]

The various specimen types (e.g. two-dimensional crystals, protein filaments, individual protein molecules, and large complexes) require different approaches at their image analysis. On our course we will review the major techniques used in electron microscopy: electron crystallography, helical, icosahedral reconstructions, single particle methods, and electron tomography. That will help students to make a choice of the method for their own research. However, the emphasis will be made on processing of single particle images.

The course will cover:

• Basic concepts of Fourier analysis
• Principles of TEM image formation and contrast transfer
• Image acquisition and pre-processing
• Contrast transfer function correction
• Symmetry and alignment
• Multivariate statistical analysis and eigenimages
• Determination of orientations for 3D reconstruction
• Angular reconstitution
• Methods of 3D reconstruction
• Icosahedral reconstruction
• Electron crystallography
• Helical reconstruction
• Interpretation: Atomic structure fitting into EM maps
  

Timetable [Top]

Overall, the course timetable will be made up of practicals (37%), lectures (40%), seminars and presentations (13%) and discussion (10%).
A provisional timetable is available here.


Lecturers [Top]

The following people will be speaking at the course:

Bridget Carragher Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, USA

Wah Chiu Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA

Achilleas Frangakis Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Kay Grünewald Oxford Particle Imaging Centre, Oxford, UK

Felix de Haas FEI Europe B.V., Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Richard Henderson MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK

Bruno Klaholz Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), Strasbourg, France

Carolyn Moores Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, London, UK

Keiichi Namba Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

Elena Orlova Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, London, UK

Alan Roseman University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

Peter Rosenthal MRC NIMR, London, UK

Helen Saibil Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, London, UK

Christian Spahn Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Henning Stahlberg University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Holger Stark Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany

David Stuart The Division of Structural biology and the Oxford Protein Production Facility, Oxford, UK

Maya Topf Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, London, UK

Gabriel Waksman Department of Biological Sciences , Birkbeck, London, UK

Hong Zhou University of California, Los Angeles, USA

Reading list [Top]

A reading list for attendees is available here.


Course fee [Top]

There will be a 300 EUR registration fee for accepted participants (except for participants from industry who will be charged a fee of 1.000 EUR).

The registration fee includes all food and lodging for the duration of the course, but all attendees must arrange and pay for their own travel.


Accommodation and arrival details [Top]

The course will be held at Birkbeck College in central London and accommodation will be provided nearby on the nights of 30 August - 8 September 2011. Further details of accommodation and instructions for arrival will be send to all course attendees.

How to apply [Top]

Applications are invited from PhD students and researchers in EM.
Deadline for applications: Monday 16 May 2011

Applications should include:

- A single .pdf or word file containing a CV, a publication list, a short description of the applicant's current work and future plans; and an explanation of why attendance at the course would further the applicant's own research

- A letter of recommendation from the applicant's supervisor (to be sent by the supervisor)

Applications should be sent by email to:
Anne-Cécile Maffat (a.maffat@mail.cryst.bbk.ac.uk)

Applicants will be contacted two or three weeks after the deadline to confirm whether their application has been successful.


Course organisers [Top]

The course organisers are Professor Elena Orlova and Professor Helen Saibil from the Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck.

Contact [Top]

If you would like to be kept informed of announcements about this course please send an email to the ISMB Administrator.