What happens when AI and biology accelerate each other? EMBL Acting Head of AI Centre, Oliver Stegle, discusses how closer integration of these fields could transform the life sciences. Watch this video to learn more. #EMBL_AI

An automated cryo-EM sample-prep workflow achieved a sevenfold improvement in vitrification quality inside large human cell nuclei versus traditional plunge-freezing. It also screens grids before microscope time is used. doi.org/hb8jvv

Unique instruments automate sample preparation, quality control for cryo-electron microscopy

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can help scientists determine the three-dimensional structure of proteins in unprecedented detail.

phys.org

The Papp team has developed EasyGrid and EasyGrid Control, new instruments for automated cryo-EM sample preparation and quality control. These systems, recently described in the journal Nature Methods, are improving and accelerating microscopy and imaging studies. bit.ly/4wbhj3L

Such a pleasure to see stellar PhD student Jill Von Velsen present and defend her thesis yesterday on the MEK1-ERK2 complex 👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Many thanks to the Jury @pierre-maisonneuve.bsky.social Katia Zanier Malene Jensen Gilles Labesse and Franck Fieschi @embl.org

This was a game changer for our 88 kDa kinase complex www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Structura Biotechnology@structurabio.bsky.social · 2mo ago

For years, the #cryoEM community viewed ~50 kDa as the practical lower size limit for SPA. This was challenged by Kim et al., who introduced the HR-HAIR method and demonstrated structure determination of proteins below 30 kDa using #CryoSPARC. Read more 👉 bit.ly/3RHMxAt

Added a little script to chimerax-trimmings to automate the creation of panels for model-map fit figures. It zones the map around (by default) 40aa parts of each chain (but doesn't cut in the middle of helices). Saves each as a png, metadata to csv. Saves each view as a scene for tweaking views.

We're super excited to share MissAlignment: a new ML-based approach to reference-free tilt series alignment, spearheaded by @martenchaillet.bsky.social. We think it's going to make your cryo-ET life a lot better. Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Code: github.com/warpem/miss-... 🧶 Thread:

🚨July 21, 2027: PDB Beta Archive replaces current PDB archive. Key updates: • Extended IDs (1ABC → pdb_00001abc). • Only 12-char IDs issued. • Data in PDBx/mmCIF & PDBML only. All PDB users must transition to extended IDs and PDBx/mmCIF. www.wwpdb.org/news/news?ye... #PDB

Excited to share our work on the structure and function of cytoplasmic lattices within mouse embryos. A collaborative effort with @niakanlab.bsky.social and work led by @kashishsingh.bsky.social and @inaharasimov.bsky.social . It is now out on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Great work from post-doctoral fellow @joanzone.bsky.social: New preprint on identifying active structures of protein kinases -- capable of binding ATP, Mg ions & especially substrates -- +modeling all 437 human catalytic protein kinase domains in their active conformation. doi.org/10.64898/202...

Are you a structural biologist pushing the boundaries of molecular science with an ambitious research programme? Join our Structural Studies Division as a tenure-track Group Leader, with core funding, world-leading facilities & enthusiastic colleagues. Apply by 16 MAR www.nature.com/naturecareer...

Please spread the word: the Structural Studies Division @mrclmb.bsky.social is looking for a new tenure-track, independent group leader with an exciting plan in any area of Structural (Molecular & Cell) biology, in discovery biology and/or methods development. 🥳 mrc.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...

One week left to apply - get writing!

EMBL Events@events.embl.org · 6mo ago

Only a week left to apply for the 'Structural characterisation of macromolecular complexes' course at EMBL Grenoble! Learn about the strategic use of cutting-edge protein structure prediction methods and recent advances in in situ structural biology. 🧬 #EMBOMacromolecular s.embl.org/mmo26-01-bl

Molecular basis of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK2 activation by its upstream kinase MEK1 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.19.700303v1 #cryoEM

Molecular basis of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK2 activation by its upstream kinase MEK1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.19.700303v1

Molecular basis of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK2 activation by its upstream kinase MEK1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.19.700303v1

New Preprint alert! Excited to share our latest work on the #MAPKinases from stellar PhD student Jill von Velsen. First structures of the MAP2K MEK1 activating its substrate MAPK between 2.9 and 3.6A - amazing resolutions for such a small and mobile complex! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

I'm looking forward to speaking at this course (and finally seeing my PhD-labmate @mattbowler.bsky.social's institute in Grenoble)!

Matthew Bowler@mattbowler.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Very pleased to be on the organizing committee of the EMBO course Structural Characterization of Macromolecular Complexes in 2026! We have a fantastic line up of speakers and tutors, please share widely! 👉apply here: www.embl.org/about/info/c...

Are you working on challenging projects in structural biology? #EMBOMacromolecular will highlight the strategic use of cutting-edge protein structure prediction methods, and recent advances in in situ structural biology. Apply by 18 Feb to join us at EMBL Grenoble! 🧬 s.embl.org/mmo26-01-bl

Very pleased to be on the organizing committee of the EMBO course Structural Characterization of Macromolecular Complexes in 2026! We have a fantastic line up of speakers and tutors, please share widely! 👉apply here: www.embl.org/about/info/c...

Are you working on challenging projects in structural biology? #EMBOMacromolecular will highlight the strategic use of cutting-edge protein structure prediction methods, and recent advances in in situ structural biology. Apply by 18 Feb to join us at EMBL Grenoble! 🧬 s.embl.org/mmo26-01-bl

Another amazing drug repurposing study from Silvia Diaz Martin Alexandre Bougdour Christopher Swale and @hakimi.bsky.social Very pleased to have supported the structural work on our favorite protein family - the kinases!

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI@hakimi.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Nature Com. now live! 🎉 Silvia’s amazing PhD supervised by Alex “the Greatest” & Christopher’s big-bang contribution. Huge thanks to our stellar team & collaborators. We went fishing in the FDA pond and hooked LY2090314 🎣 Blocks GSK3 🎯in #Toxoplasma & #Crypto www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Nature Com. now live! 🎉 Silvia’s amazing PhD supervised by Alex “the Greatest” & Christopher’s big-bang contribution. Huge thanks to our stellar team & collaborators. We went fishing in the FDA pond and hooked LY2090314 🎣 Blocks GSK3 🎯in #Toxoplasma & #Crypto www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Structural and functional characterization of TgGSK3, a druggable kinase in Toxoplasma gondii - Nature Communications

Researchers identify the cancer drug LY2090314 as a potent inhibitor of Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium and report the first crystal structure of the parasite kinase TgGSK3 bound to it, validati...

nature.com

For sure, Macron’s troubles are partly of his own making. But there is something immensely sad about a pro-European leader and standard-bearer for the democratic centre ending up with such a political mess

These results are truly impressive! But I do worry that #cryoEM is moving into a phase where progress is made by optimizing parameter settings for black box programs. The devil is often in the details, and I am not sure how this could be implemented in #relion, as stated, without more info.

Oli Clarke@olibclarke.bsky.social · 11mo ago

This one is a bit of a departure from the usual and definitely a work in progress! We found that by using ab initio reconstruction at very high res, in very small steps, we could crack some small structures that had eluded us - e.g. 39kDa iPKAc (EMPIAR-10252), below. Read on for details... 1/x

Zeus had his Hydra ⚔️, now Toxoplasma has its own. Meet Hydra: not a monster, but a brand-new protein domain. It multimerizes like crazy & rewrites the chromatin landscape 🧬 in Toxoplasma. Our team and colleagues from @embl.org #Grenoble just dropped the preprint 👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

In our new paper @asbmb.bsky.social JBC we detail our surprising discovery that the MAP2Ks can use ADP to phosphorylate their substrate MAPKs – driven by @paulineJYX @ErikaPellegri13 and @jvonvelsen t.co/spLZbaz5Wk

Thrilled to share my first paper, now out in @natmicrobiol.nature.com! Huge thanks to my amazing supervisor @hakimi.bsky.social and everyone who contributed to this work! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

An ISWI-related chromatin remodeller regulates stage-specific gene expression in Toxoplasma gondii - Nature Microbiology

Toxoplasma gondii evolved two ISWI remodellers, TgSNF2h and TgSNF2L. TgSNF2h forms a complex that insulates active genes, regulates MORC-driven sexual commitment and ensures precise gene expression, s...

nature.com

1/ Today is #WorldMalariaDay. At EMBL, we join the global efforts to control malaria with innovative biological approaches. 👉 Swipe through to discover how scientists at EMBL study the malaria parasite and drive progress in global health. 🔗 Read more: www.embl.org/news/tag/mal...

We are very happy. The Editors of Journal of Applied Crystallography have chosen figures from our article (journals.iucr.org/j/issues/202...) to feature as the cover image for the February 2025 issue. THANKS