Seeking structure: an insight into cryo-EM, structural biology and drug development

Structural biology is used to understand the three-dimensional shape of biological molecules and how their shape enables them to function both inside and outside of cells. Furthermore, the three-dimensional architecture of these biological molecules helps us understand how mutations or other perturbations, whether they're environmental or systemic, give rise to diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease. By pinpointing specific structural features associated with disease, researchers can design new or improve existing therapeutics for the treatment of those diseases. To do this, researchers often turn to cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). We spoke to two scientists – who use cryo-EM to...