Project description
Advanced technique to mapping elements in biological samples
Mapping the elemental composition of macromolecular structures helps understand their functions, yet existing methods lack precision. The ERC-funded REEL-EM project will introduce an innovative technique called reconstructed electron energy loss – elemental mapping. This approach combines principles from analytical electron microscopy and cryogenic electron microscopy. Unlike traditional methods that require high electron doses, the proposed approach divides the dose across many images, preserving delicate biological samples and achieving sensitive elemental analysis. This approach allows mapping elements at atomic resolution in 3D, with a spatial resolution of 1 nm. Throughout the course of the project, researchers will optimise the new technique and apply it to critical macromolecular complexes such as the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor and the mitochondrial F-type ATP synthase.
Objective
A perfect macromolecular structure would provide an all-atom description of the molecule, including not only the well-ordered polypeptide or polynucleotide framework but all other species: metals and other ions, cofactors, lipids, substrates and inhibitors. However, current structural data include no or very little information on elemental composition, leading to significant errors and omissions in atomic models. To address this issue, I propose to develop a method, Reconstructed Electron Energy Loss - Elemental Mapping (REEL-EM), that will map elemental distribution within macromolecular complexes by bringing together well-established principles in analytical electron microscopy (EM) and biological cryogenic EM.
Atomic-resolution elemental mapping in the electron microscope is well established for dose-tolerant samples. Electron Energy Loss (EEL) techniques capture information from inelastic scattering events in the sample, and energy losses are characteristic of the element and chemical state of the scattering atom. These techniques require a high electron dose to achieve useable signal-to-noise ratio, severely limiting their application to biological samples.
Our novel approach combines the image processing tools of single-particle cryo-EM with EEL techniques, allowing us to add EEL signal in the 3D particle space, effectively dividing the dose required for sensitive elemental analysis between many images. Preliminary work in my research group confirms that our proposed approach is valid - we are able to generate maps of specific elements in the 3D particle space. I propose to extend this early work to achieve single-atom detection at 1-nm spatial resolution in the course of this five-year project. Our work will characterise and optimise all aspects of data collection and processing for REEL-EM. We will apply our methodology to two important macromolecular complexes: the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor and the mitochondrial F-type ATP synthase.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.