Seminars

PIER Photon Science Colloquium: Deciphering molecular virus-host interactions by an integrated structural cell biology approach

by Kay Grünewald (University of Oxford, UK and CSSB, Hamburg, Germany)

Europe/Berlin
CFEL, Bldg. 99 (DESY Hamburg)

CFEL, Bldg. 99

DESY Hamburg

Description
The presentation will introduce the methods and current state of the art of electron cryo microscopy (cryoEM) and tomography (cryoET) and their combination with complementary techniques. CryoEM/ET are currently undergoing a ‘resolution revolution’ due to the introduction of direct electron detectors. The power of an integrated structural biology approach to cell biology at the macromolecular level will be exemplified along the group’s analyses of crucial steps in the molecular interactions between viruses and their host cells. The main emphasis will be on understanding mechanisms of membrane modulation, e.g. in membrane fusion or vesicle formation at the inner nuclear envelope in cargo egress from the nucleus.