Integrative Structural Biology: Solving Molecular Puzzles

Integrative Structural Biology: Solving Molecular Puzzles is organized by European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and will be held from Nov 17 - 24, 2024 at CSSB, Center for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany.

Course Overview:
Integrative structural biology has become a key strategy for determining the structure of biological macromolecules and their complexes. This method entails Characterising the 3D structure through an array of complementary techniques, subsequently combining the data to form a consensus model using computational methodologies.

This practical course offers a hands-on introduction to integrative structural biology. Participants will delve into the fundamentals of various experimental structure determination techniques including X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, small-angle X-ray scattering, NMR, and mass spectrometry, through both lectures and practical exercises. Experts in the field will guide participants on how to analyse and interpret experimental data, and construct structural models across different resolution scales. A significant aspect of the course includes exploring how integrative structural biology addresses limitations of Artificial Intelligence-based structure prediction methods in modelling large complexes and their functional conformations. It will also highlight the emerging field of integrative structural biology of biomolecular complexes visualized directly in their cellular context.

Modules/resources

• Introduction to the course
• Collecting the pieces
• Putting the pieces together using electron microscopy
• Putting the pieces together using SAXS
• Integrative structural dynamics
• Stitching the pieces together
• Greater than the sum of parts: integrative modeling

Learning Outcomes:
This edition will train the participants to explore innovative strategies and techniques in integrative structural biology to overcome these limitations. this course equips a new generation of interdisciplinary structural biologists with the necessary skills to push the boundaries of the field. Through lectures, practical sessions, and collaborative interactions, participants gain insights into the latest advancements and develop a holistic understanding of integrating diverse structural biology techniques.