eukaryotes. In parallel, the researchers will measure and interaction of proteins with their functional ligands. The analyze rhodopsin, a larger protein that is responsible method allows everything from resolution at an atomic for the process of vision. Following these investigations level to information on the hydrogen content, and the with known model proteins, the team will then examine project will therefore make a substantial contribution nanocrystals of further membrane proteins of pharma- to revealing the mechanisms of action of potential phar- ceutical interest. The quality of the data will depend on maceutical ingredients. Ultimately, the researchers will the perfect ordering of the protein crystals, which must add the generated structures to corresponding databases, be very thin, nanometer-size crystals in order to reduce in which structures obtained by electron di昀昀raction are multiple-scattering events. signi昀椀cantly underrepresented at present. With this project, the research team hopes to highlight the advantages of electron di昀昀raction as a Collaboration between: complement to other structural biology techniques and Paul Scherrer Institute // Biozentrum, University of therefore to improve the methodology by applying it to Basel // leadXpro AG // ELDICO Scientific AG membrane proteins in order to gain new insights into the In the Nano-Argovia project ProtEDinNanoxtals, researchers are analyzing how electron diffraction complements other structural biology techniques to gain new insights into the interaction of proteins with their functional ligands. (Image: PSI) “ELDICO was the 昀椀rst company to produce commercially available devices that are dedicated to electron di昀昀raction (ED) crystallography. In addition, via its applica- tion center in Basel, it constantly re昀椀nes this method and frequently o昀昀ers ED as a service to customers in the pharmaceutical industry. In this project, ELDICO will work hand in hand with partners to help expand the potential use of ED on proteins — and especially on challenging membrane proteins.” Dr. Gunther Steinfeld, ELDICO Scientific AG SNI INSight June 2024 9