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Powerful microscope gives Australian scientists 'unprecedented' view of molecules

Titan electron microscope
PHOTO: The electron gun at the heart of Monash University's powerful new microscope. 





A powerful microscope that researchers hope will help them develop better treatments for diseases such as cancer is being unveiled in Melbourne.
The $5 million Titan Krios cryo-electron microscope, which is three metres tall and weighs about a tonne, will allow researchers to look at the position of individual atoms within molecular structures.
It forms the centrepiece of Monash University's new Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Structural Cryo-Electron Microscopy, which is being opened today.
Professor James Whisstock, the Australian Research Centre's director of advanced molecular imaging, said it could help find better treatments for diseases including cancer, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.
"I think this will be applicable to most of the conditions that affect people as they age. How, for example, viruses get into cells and how cells go out of control in conditions such as cancer," he said.
The microscope works by shooting electrons through a sample. Any beams deflected off the molecule can be used to create a two-dimensional image.
Capturing hundreds of samples helps scientists generate 3D images of molecules, including their loops and sidechains.
Professor Whisstock said the imaging had the potential to transform scientists' understanding of the human immune system.
"Electron microscopy has been used for many years to peer at biological life but the pictures we have been getting have been very low resolution," he said.
"But we can now drill down to atomic resolution of extremely complex [biological] machines that cannot be looked at in any other way."
Previously Australian scientists had to make overseas trips to use similar Titan microscopes.
"There are many problems associated with that, not the least transporting samples, which can be extremely sensitive and go off quite quickly," Professor Whisstock said.

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