Publications
August 31, 2025
News you can use
Featured Training Resource: CryoEM 101 (University of Utah)
If you or your team are getting started with cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) or cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), CryoEM 101 is a standout interactive learning tool. It’s a media-rich curriculum developed by Peter Shen, Janet Iwasa, and Julia Brasch, designed to walk learners through workflows using videos, animations, interactive simulations, and real datasets.
What’s in the Course:
- CryoEM 101: Covers key steps for purified proteins or complexes, from Sample Purification to Grid Preparation, Screening, Data Collection, and Image Processing.
- CryoET 101: For imaging cells or heterogeneous samples, it explores whether cryo-ET is appropriate, grid preparation, target zoning, data collection, 3D reconstruction, and tomogram annotation.
Why It’s Valuable:
- Accessible and modern: Combines visual learning with real examples, and it’s freely available.
- Ideal for self-paced or blended lab training: Perfect for new users or augmenting hands-on instruction.
- Comprehensive: Covers the entire structural biology pipeline, from sample prep to final 3D maps.
CryoEM 101 is an educational gem that makes the complex world of cryo-EM and cryo-ET approachable and engaging. Whether you’re onboarding new team members or refreshing your own knowledge, it’s a resource worth bookmarking.
Employee spotlight
Shubhra Srivastava, Ph.D., Sr Scientist I
Shubhra is an accomplished structural biologist with expertise spanning protein biochemistry, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-EM. During her postdoctoral work at the National Institutes of Health, she focused on the expression, purification, and structural analysis of challenging membrane proteins. Her multidisciplinary training and solutions-driven mindset enable her to address some of the most complex questions in structural biology. Beyond the lab, Shubhra enjoys exploring new places, spending time with family, and drawing creative inspiration from moments of quiet reflection.
Featured services
MX Data Collection Service - Helix is a world leader in synchrotron X-ray data collection. We make it extremely simple to schedule your desired data collection using our booking website. Helix takes care of the entire process, including handling all the shipping logistics (including making shipping paperwork), synchrotron agreements/forms, and storage of raw/processed data. With over 50 years of combined synchrotron and industrial data collection experience, our customers rely on Helix for X-ray data collection and stick with us due to our quality, reliability, and continuous access to beamtime. We offer by-the-crystal pricing, so whether you have a few samples or hundreds per week, we can help with your x-ray data collection and help optimize your structure solution process.
Spotlight Reads!!
“Beyond AlphaFold: how AI is decoding the grammar of the genome”
In this August 18, 2025, Nature feature by Jeffrey M. Perkel, the narrative explores a suite of emerging AI tools, such as Evo, regLM, and DeepMind’s AlphaGenome, that are starting to unravel the regulatory “grammar” embedded in non-coding DNA regions. Unlike AlphaFold, which predicts protein structures from sequences, these models are designed to interpret and even generate functional genomic elements like enhancers, promoters, and transcription-factor binding sites. From minimal prompts, they can produce sequences with predicted regulatory activity, advancing efforts in fine-mapping disease-associated variants, designing synthetic regulatory elements for gene and cell therapies, and pushing genomic understanding toward a new era of AI-driven discovery.
HELIX HIGHLIGHTS
Scientists from Helix Biostructures visited the University of Chicago Cryo-EM core!
This month, two of our scientists, Shubhra Srivastava and Meagan Dufrinse, visited the University of Chicago Cryo-EM Core to learn more about advanced sample preparation techniques. Hands-on exchanges like these are invaluable for strengthening expertise and building collaborations in structural biology. Our Director of Cryo-EM, James Fuller, is integral to the journey.
Instrument review
cryo-EM - Helix BioStructures is a leading provider of cryo-EM services. In cases where x-ray crystallography is unsuitable for structural characterization, including certain protein complexes, viruses, antibodies, membrane proteins, and ion channels, Helix offers flexible access to cryo-electron microscopy expertise and services using a milestone-based or by-the-sample approach.
Equipped with six Krios and two Glacios microscopes, we produce high-quality cryo-EM data at industrial speed and at affordable rates. Importantly, we can purify the protein and go directly to grids without freezing and thawing the protein. This leads to high-quality particles and increased success for our clients.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you with your cryo-EM projects.
