Breaking Barriers to Go Beyond Structure: Describing Functional States and Biological Context

The 2015 Gordon Research Conference on Three-Dimensional Electron Microscopy (3DEM) will continue its tradition of showcasing leading method development and biological research in three-dimensional structure determination, from macromolecules to cells.

Visualizing the structures of biological molecular machines is crucial for a mechanistic understanding of cellular function. 3DEM allows determination of structure and conformational dynamics of a wide variety of specimens, ranging from macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies to organelles and whole cells in their native environment. Progress in this field since this conference started in 1985 has been remarkable, and 3DEM has become a key method in both structural and cell biology. The technique has just entered a new era with the use of high-end electron microscopes coupled to new direct electron detection cameras that has led to high-resolution structural information using single particle cryo-EM, and unprecedented clarity in cellular ultrastructure characterization by electron tomography. Technical breakthroughs are pushing resolution limits, the breath of the applicability, and the biological insight provided by 3DEM. The conference will focus on the latest technological advances in instrumentation, software development, data processing, and tools for interpretation and validation that lead to improvements in quality, resolution, and reliability of the EM maps. It will also cover recent examples of how 3DEM is being used to elucidate biological function, with an emphasis on the description on multiple functional states and the biological context of macromolecules essential for their function.

The Conference will bring together the leading experts, junior researchers, and representatives of industrial partners in this exciting and rapidly evolving structural biology field. Following the tradition of previous conferences, the program will offer an attractive combination of lectures and poster sessions, with poster presenters selected for short talks during the course of the conference. The program will also provide excellent opportunities for discussions and informal gatherings. Due to limited attendance (<180 participants) and the over-subscribed nature of previous meetings, early registration is encouraged.