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%).
An updated timetable of the course is available here.


Lecturers [Top]

The following people will be speaking at the course:

Roland Beckmann Gene Center, University of Munich

Bridget Carragher Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, USA

Wah Chiu Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA

Achilleas Frangakis EMBL, Heidelberg

Felix de Haas FEI Company, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Marin van Heel Imperial College, London, UK

Richard Henderson MRC laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK

Kay Grunewald Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany

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

Carolyn Moores School of Crystallography, Birkbeck, London, UK

Keiichi Namba Osaka University, Japan

Richard Newman European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge

Elena Orlova School of Crystallography, Birkbeck, London, UK

Neil Ranson University of Leeds, UK

Peter Rosenthal NIMR, London, UK

Helen Saibil School of Crystallography, Birkbeck, London, UK

Judith Short MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK

David Stuart The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK

Maya Topf School of Crystallography, Birkbeck, London, UK

Gabriel Waksman School of Crystallography, Birkbeck, London, UK

Hong Zhou University of California, USA

Course fee [Top]

There is no course fee, except for industrial attendees. Participants from industry will be charged a fee of 1.000 euro, payable directly to the organizer of the course.
Food and accommodation will be provided throughout the course but all attendees must arrange and pay for their own travel.


Reading list [Top]

A reading list for attendees is available here.


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 7-16 September. 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 1 June 2009

Applications should include:
- A Curriculum vitae
- A publication list
- A short description of your current work and future plans
- An explanation of why attendance at the course would further the applicant's own research
- A letter of recommendation from the applicant's supervisor (Please note that this letter should be emailed or posted by the supervisor, not by the applicant)

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

or by mail to the following address:
Anne-Cécile Maffat
Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology
School of Crystallography
Birkbeck
Malet Street
London WC1E 7HX
United Kingdom


Applicants will be contacted 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 School of Crystallography, Birkbeck.

Contact [Top]

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