Investigators and Program Directors

Research Interests

Our laboratory develops methods of 3D visualization and structural analysis with the electron microscope, and applies these methods to a number of important biological structures. Electron microscopy has a unique position among structural analysis methods in that it allows the bridging of a large size range in biology, from details close to atomic resolution to cellular organelles. Our 3D imaging technology is equipped to visualize biological complexity in this entire range.

Macromolecular assemblies are imaged as single particles with 200KV and 300KV electron microscopes under low dose conditions. They are either prepared by negative staining or in vitreous ice. A 3D image is formed by using a battery of techniques, including correlation analysis, multivariate statistical analysis, classification, and reconstruction. The main focus of our work is the study of the structure and function of the ribosome. Cryo-electron microscope maps of ribosome complexes in a resolution range of 10-15 Å are used to determine the dynamic process of protein synthesis.

Subcellular structures are imaged with high voltage (400 or 1200 kV) electron microscopes using electron tomography; i.e., by taking projection images in a range ±60 and performing subsequent 3D reconstruction. We continue to improve the computer programs and provide assistance to cell biologists studying organelles such as the mitochondrion and the kinetochore.

Learn more: National Center for Supercomputing Applications University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Watch movies: Ribosome animations featured in Chemical & Engineering News

Contact Information

Phone (518) 474-7002
Fax (518) 486-2191
E-mail: joachim@wadsworth.org