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Microcrystal electron diffraction methodology and applications

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Abstract

Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) is a cryo-electron microscopy technique that utilizes three-dimensional nano- and microcrystals for high-resolution structure determination. These extremely small crystals are several orders of magnitude smaller than what is used in conventional x-ray diffraction experiments. MicroED is capable of providing high-quality data from samples that would otherwise be considered useless for diffraction measurements. Since its initial implementation, MicroED has been used in the fields of structural biology, chemistry, and materials science. In this article, we provide an overview of the MicroED methodology as well as examples of how MicroED in cryo-electron microscopy has been used for structure determination of a variety of samples.

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Acknowledgments

The Gonen laboratory is supported by funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The Nannenga laboratory is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01GM124152 and R21GM135784), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Grant No. FA9550-18-1-0012. MicroED was developed at the Janelia Research Campus of HHMI using HHMI funds and Janelia Visitor Program funds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School for Engineering Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, USA

    Brent L. Nannenga

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

    Tamir Gonen

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  1. Brent L. Nannenga
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  2. Tamir Gonen
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Correspondence to Brent L. Nannenga.

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Nannenga, B.L., Gonen, T. Microcrystal electron diffraction methodology and applications. MRS Bulletin 44, 956–960 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2019.287

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