Gonen Lab

Laboratory of molecular electron microscopy

Our laboratory is multidisciplinary. 

Over the last decade we have employed structural biology techniques such as electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), X-ray crystallography, NMR, molecular dynamics simulations, and used membrane biochemistry and biophysics to understand the function of the proteins of interest. Within electron microscopy we have published papers using electron tomography, single particle reconstructions, and electron crystallography. However, our specialty lies in electron diffraction.

Part of our laboratory is also devoted to method development in cryo-EM. 

In recent years we have developed two important methods in electron diffraction, namely fragment-based phase extension and MicroED.

Our laboratory studies the structures of membrane proteins. 

Based on structure we try to understand function and what goes wrong in disease. We focus primarily on proteins in the blood-brain barrier. The long-standing question in our laboratory is how the thousands of membrane channels and transporters that exist in the cell membrane work together to help cells maintain homeostasis. With that question in mind, we study membrane proteins that are involved in nutrient, ion, and water uptake, waste removal, signaling, and communication.

Lead Investigator

News

Chemistry World highlights MicroED

November 13, 2024

British news magazine Chemistry World traces the history of MicroED from its beginnings with aquaporin to its promising future, where dedicated instruments streamline the method even further.

 

Johan Unge to chair ACA MicroED special interest group

November 11, 2024

Johan Unge was elected chair of the MicroED special interest group. He will transition to chair The Structural Science Society’s interest group in 2025.
 

Johan Hattne chair elect of ACA Best Practices special interest group

November 11, 2024

Johan Hattne is the new chair elect for the Best Practices special interest group of the ACA: The Structural Science Society. He is slated to chair the group next year.