29-Sep-2021
Instruct-ERIC is comprised of 15 members across Europe, offering access to cutting-edge structural biology technology and services to researchers worldwide – with funded access available for members throughout Europe.
One of Instruct’s members is The Netherlands, comprised of three facilities in the country offering access to advanced services for structural biologists. Access to Instruct-NL has yielded exciting scientific developments, particularly in the modern world of SARS-CoV-2, and the centre will be hosting the upcoming Instruct-ERIC Biennial Structural Biology Conference 2022.
Ariene Briegel is the new Instruct-NL representative, and will oversee operations throughout the Instruct Centre. Following the appointment, Ariane commented, “Instruct-NL is a great opportunity to boost structural biology research in the Netherlands. Furthermore, being a member of Instruct-ERIC provides Dutch biologists easy access to technologies outside of our own infrastructure. I am delighted to have been nominated as representative of the Instruct-NL offering.”
Furthermore, as an Instruct-ERIC member, Instruct-NL facilities are open to internship applications by pre-doctoral scientists (PhD students) and early-stage postdoctoral fellows from any Instruct member outside of the Netherlands. Find out more about internships here.
Bijvoet Centre – Utrecht University
The Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research at Utrecht University studies the relationship between the structure and function of biomolecules. The centre offers access to solution and solid-state NMR – state of the art digital Bruker NMR spectrometers for biomolecular characterisation.
In addition, the centre offers access to its protein mass spectrometers, as well as providing training where necessary depending on the experience of the user. Explore the Bijvoet Centre.
NKI Protein Facility
The NKI Protein Facility provides support for the production, purification, biophysical characterisation and crystallisation of proteins. Researchers without the experience or facilities to produce and analyse proteins can request for additional assistance with the design and performance of the experiments.
Some experiments (e.g. high throughput macromolecular crystallisation) will be performed by the facility staff and are offered as a service. A particular strength of the facility is in the characterisation of macromolecular interactions using a multitude of biophysical methods. Explore the NKI Facility.
NeCEN
The Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN) at Leiden University is the open access facility for cryo-EM in the Netherlands – making it a valuable resource for Instruct members looking to study proteins, cells and organelles in a near-native state.
In addition to data collection, NeCEN offers a wide range or cryo-EM related services, including sample preparation, sample screening, image processing and specialised customer tailored trainings and courses. Explore the NeCEN Facility.
A team from Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V collaborated with the Netherlands Center for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN) to create and characterise new stable variants of the S trimer, one of the main targets for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development.
S is a large viral surface protein crucial for the viral life cycle that mediates both the interaction and the fusion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with host cells, however its instability makes the isolation of stable S-closed proteins in a pre-fusion state challenging.
The study developed a stable S protein, by producing new variants from single mutations. A stable variant was identified, then confirmed by cryo-EM that it retained the pre-fusion conformation – which could then be used in the advanced development of vaccines by Janssen. Explore the full highlight here.
The Instruct Structural Biology Biennial Conference (IBSBC) 2022 will take place at the Muntgebouw Utrecht, Netherlands: 19-20 May 2022.
Showcasing the latest in integrative structural biology from leading scientists across the world, the theme of the 5th Biennial Conference will be: “Changes in Structural Biology: Challenges in Studying Dynamics”
Find out more information on the Biennial, and book your spot at the conference here.
