Cryogenic Electron Microscopy Core Facility at IOCB Prague

Hana Šváchová, Anatolij Filimoněnko, Anna Knopp Dubánková, Pavel Brázda, Kiran K.Telekunta and Tomáš Kouba

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences,

Flemingovo náměstí 542/2, 160 00, Praha 6, Czech Republic

tomas.kouba@uochb.cas.cz

We are the newly established Cryogenic Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) Core Facility at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) in Prague. Our specialized cryo-EM team offers a comprehensive range of services, from sample preparation and characterization data collection, and single particle analysis (SPA) conducted on High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. In close cooperation with other groups, we can ensure atomic-model building service for the structures we analyze and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

Cryo-EM allows visualization of bound small-molecule ligands in the macromolecules at high resolution. These new structures provide beneficial insights into the molecular mechanisms of complex biochemical processes and a profound impact on drug discovery, defining the binding modes and mechanisms of action.

Our proficiency extends beyond cryo-EM, encompassing techniques at ambient temperatures and 3D electron diffraction. The Cryo-EM group is equipped with an inhouse screening microscope and collaborates with CEITEC in Brno to access highresolution instrumentation. Dana analysis is performed in collaboration with a highperformance computing (HPC) facility. The cluster consists of ~250 CPU nodes and ~40 GPU nodes.

Our facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation (300kV Krios G4 and 200kV Glacios) for single particle analysis and 3D electron diffraction. Our goal is to establish a cutting-edge cryo-EM infrastructure that will meet the needs of IOCB users and potential external collaborators.