Faculty of MedicineHigh Resolution Macromolecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Structure of a lipid flippase from the retina
A new paper from the Molday and Van Petegem labs has solved the structure of the ABCA4 transporter using cryo-EM. ABCA4 is a transporter present in the retina which moves a key lipid from the lumen to the cytoplasmic leaflet of photoreceptor membranes where it can be broken down. This is crucial in the prevention […]
Structure of a disease mutant ryanodine receptor
Researchers in the Van Petegem lab have published a new structure of a ryanodine receptor showing how a mutation linked to disease causes a pathological conformation of the receptor. The ryanodine receptor is a calcium channel present in the endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum, and mutations in this channel have been linked to malignant hypothermia, myopathies […]
Structural basis of insecticide binding to the ryanodine receptor
In a new paper from the Van Petegem lab, researchers show how the widely used diamide class of insecticides bind to an ion channel called the ryanodine receptor, and how the insecticide triggers opening of this ion channel. The study shows how several insects have developed resistance by evolving mutations directly within the binding site. […]
Structure EspA filament of enteropathogenic E.Coli
In a new paper from the Strynadka lab, researchers show the structure of the EspA filament from enteropathogenic E.Coli. Enteropathogenic E.Coli used the a multi-protein assembly called the Type III Secretion System to deliver proteins to host cells. The EspA filament is an extension to the Type III secretion system required for bacterial colonization of […]
Structure of EscV, a key protein in bacterial secretion systems
A new paper from the Strynadka lab uses cryo-EM to solve the structure of the bacterial protein EscV. EscV is a key protein in controlling the export of substrates through a macromolecular ‘syringe’ known as the Type III secretion system, which bacteria use to transfer proteins, including toxins, directly into host cells.
Near Atomic Cryo-EM Structure of the Type III Secretion System
Congratulations to the Strynadka Lab on their paper published in Nature Communications! Researchers used cryo-EM to determine a high resolution structure of the Type III Secretion System, and processed the data to obtain near atomic resolution structures of several components which make up this assembly.
Lipid Nanoparticles imaged at HRMEM
Congratulations to the Cullis lab on their paper published in ACS Nano. Kulkarni et al used the HRMEM facility to image lipid nanoparticles.
Apoferritin
Image of apoferritin captured on the Krios microscope at HRMEM.
Beta Galactosidase
Image of beta galactosidase captured on the Krios microscope at HRMEM.
Keyhole Limpet Haemocyanin
Image of keyhole limpet haemocyanin take on the Krios microscope at HRMEM.

Welcome to the High Resolution Macromolecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy facility at UBC!

The goal of the HRMEM facility is to accelerate structural biology research using cryo-transmission electron microcopy. The facility provides leading-edge instrumentation, training and consultation for both single particle and tomography workflows. We support academic and industry users from across Canada for a wide range of high resolution cryo-EM projects.

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Training

We offer training in vitrification, microscope operation, and data analysis

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Our Instruments

We have 3 microscopes: Talos, Glacios and Krios

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