Basic life processes start in the cell, which is why biologists seek to understand how they function and respond to disease or genetic variations. Cellular biology explores individual cells and the ways in which they are organized into organs and tissues. Structural biology delves deeper into sub-cellular components, organelles and macromolecular structures. Electron microscopy (EM) is capable of providing insight at all these scales and more, revealing even atomic-level structural details for a range of biomolecules.
We’ve created this learning center to connect scientists around the world to the latest information on electron microscopy technology and to guide you to the best solution that will accelerate your next discovery or breakthrough.
Visit Electron Microscopy for the Life Sciences to learn more ›
International Women's Day 2021: Celebrating Women in Cryo-EM
Explore podcasts, interviews, and webinars featuring women in cryo-EM. Their stories from a variety of life science fields and locations all across the globe will inspire and encourage.
Listen, discover, and set out to make your own mark in the cryo-EM movement ›
Learn from the experts
Ask the Experts Series
These interactive Q&A sessions offer you the chance to stay connected to the latest science through conversations on unique topics.
Podcast Series: Getting to know you
In this informal podcast series, we get to know some members of our scientific community and their latest work.
On-demand webinars
Single particle analysis webinars
Single particle analysis (SPA) is a cryo-electron microscopy technique that enables structural characterization at near-atomic resolutions, unraveling dynamic biological processes and the structure of biomolecular complexes/assemblies.
Watch now to learn about structural biology at near-atomic resolution ›
Cryo-tomography webinars
Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) delivers both structural information about individual proteins as well as their spatial arrangements within the cell. Cryo-ET can bridge the gap between light microscopy and near-atomic-resolution techniques like single-particle analysis.
Watch now to see how cryo-ET is opening literal windows into cells ›
MicroED webinars
Micro electron diffraction (MicroED) is an exciting new technique with applications in the structural determination of small molecules and protein. With this method, atomic details can be extracted from individual nanocrystals (<200 nm in size), even in a heterogeneous mixture. Watch now to see how
Integrative structural biology webinars
Integrative structural biology uses structural and functional information from various techniques, including mass spectrometry and cryo-EM, to arrive faster at a more complete picture of the protein and its function.
Watch now to learn how integrating data helps you to understand structure-function relationships ›
Customer and expert interviews
Watch these interviews to learn how our customers and products are impacting the latest life science research.
Dr. Erica Saphire on how cryo-EM is advancing her virus research
4:40
Prof. Erica Ollmann Saphire from La Jolla Institute for Immunology discusses how cryo-EM has been a winner to understand a range of virus structures from Ebola to SARS-CoV-2 leading to insights for drugs and vaccine development.
Sars-CoV-2 research at UT-Austin
9:14
Prof. Jason McLellan answers questions about spike protein structure, cryo-EM and vaccine trials with collaborators at NIH. Filmed in March 2020, video courtesy of The University of Texas at Austin.
Prof. Briegel and new discoveries in microbes with CryoET
6:39
Prof. Ariane Briegel from Leiden University was plenary speaker at ASM Microbe 2019. She discusses how cryo-electron tomography is overcoming research barriers faced in microbiology and gives her top tips for working with the technology.
New publications at the forefront of life science research
Hervas, R. et al. Cryo-EM structure of a neuronal functional amyloid implicated in memory persistence in Drosophila.
Science 367, 1230 (2020). DOI: 10.1126/science.aba3526
Hurdiss, D. L. et al. Cryo-EM structure of coronavirus-HKU1 haemagglutinin esterase reveals architectural changes arising from prolonged circulation in humans.
bioRxiv (2020). DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.25.998963
Liang, Y.-L. et al. Structure and Dynamics of Adrenomedullin Receptors AM1 and AM2 Reveal Key Mechanisms in the Control of Receptor Phenotype by Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins.
ACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci. (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.9b00080
Learn cryo-EM essentials
Visit EM-learning.com to learn about the foundations of cryo-EM, including the single particle analysis (SPA) workflow, via step-by-step instructions, expert demonstrations and theoretical lessons—at any pace, from any place and free of charge.
Cryo-EM eBook
Cryo-EM can determine structures of challenging proteins without the need for crystals and can provide insight into how these proteins function in a way that other methods simply cannot. Use cryo-EM to get a broader picture of how membrane proteins function and contribute to disease to drive your research and improve drug design.
Featured blog
Our Accelerating Microscopy Blog offers educational content and the latest research highlights across disciplines. Be sure to read the featured post; "Cryo-EM Used in Novel Coronavirus Research to Support Vaccine, Treatment Development."
Our events
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View our Materials and Structural Analysis Webinars ›