Platform for Image-processing of cryo-EM image data

• Subject Area: Structural Biology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 456578072

In the past few years, electron cryo microscopy has developed into a general method for structure determination of biological assemblies. The method relies on image analysis of thousands of movies of multi-copy biological macromolecular assemblies stabilized in vitrified aqueous buffer. While image acquisition has been a major bottle neck a few years ago, it is now readily available via general facilities, which have emerged in response to the funding initiative of the DFG in 2016/2017. Users can access these facilities to obtain high-quality image data, which is a prerequisite for the subsequent high-resolution structure determination. However, our experience shows that many users, especially if they are not directly associated to a cryo-EM group, are often overwhelmed by the task to analyse the data. After a data acquisition session at the facility, they are often left alone with the data because there is no framework to further support them beyond image acquisition. Therefore, it is not surprising that often the full potential of a dataset is not realised, or the data is not even analysed. This generates a situation where many groups, although they have scientifically important, suitable samples are excluded from the benefits of structure determination by electron cryo microscopy. We want to fill this gap by providing a training and image-processing platform that is accessible to national and international scientists and provides them with support at different levels of expertise. Considering the diverse backgrounds of these scientists, which may range from a cell biologist with potentially little previous knowledge in structural biology to an experienced X-ray crystallographer who is naturally much closer to the technique, a single approach will not fit all needs. Therefore, we propose to develop an image processing platform, which provides structured training, supports scientists in residence to advance their projects, enables proficient users to process their data independently and delivers structure determination as a collaborative service. We think that such a platform will fill the gap in image processing that has arisen through the rapid development of electron cryo microscopy.

• DFG Programme: Core Facilities
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Participating Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg; Biozentrum der Universität Würzburg; Lehrstuhl für Biochemie I
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Bettina Böttcher