Abstract: Laser-induced ignition is envisioned as a lightweight and effective technology for second-stage boosters and low-orbit maneuvers. One of the critical design challenges...
Oct19
Laser phase plate for CryoEM
Holger Müller, UC Berkeley
Monday, October 19, 2026
·
4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. PT
Abstract: Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) has already had a revolutionary impact on single-particle structure analysis (SPA) and cell biology, but still falls far short of its theoretical capabilities. Here, we maximize image contrast by combining the laser phase plate (LPP) with spherical aberration (Cs) correction and in-focus data collection to greatly enhance structural analysis of small particles. We reconstruct the hemoglobin heterotetramer (64 kDa) to 2.1-Å resolution using 15-50× fewer particle images than conventional cryo-EM, and present sub-3A structures at and beyond the current size frontier of cryo-EM, such as the hemoglobin αβ heterodimer (32 kDa), carbonic anhydrase (29 kDa), and lysozyme (14 kDa).
About Holger Müller
Bio: Holger Müller is a physics professor at UC Berkeley doing strange things with electrons, lasers, and quantum mechanics. When he’s not trying to figure out whether gravity can entangle atoms, he can be found wondering whether there is a more efficient way to get through his email. His work has taken him deep into the world of imaging, where the experiments are complicated, the lasers are temperamental, but the electrons, at least occasionally, cooperate.
Audience:
In case you're interested
Upcoming events
No Colloquium 11/02. Back next week!
Nov2
Info coming soon!
Nov9
