Cryo-TEM to map nanoscale structures in vesicles

Project Description

Encapsulation of functional polymers, such as RNA, within a lipid vesicle, is an important process for synthetic cells as well as liposomal drug delivery vehicles. Interestingly, encapsulation itself enhances folding and activity through confinement effects, and even accelerates evolutionary adaptation for catalytic RNA. However, a lack of detailed structural knowledge limits our understanding of the encapsulated biophysical environment and our ability to probe the mechanisms behind their emergent properties. Our goal is to map the nanoscale structures of macromolecules and nanoparticle structures when encapsulated. We will analyze TEM images of cryo-prepared samples, quantifying the volume and spatial distribution of nanoparticles and RNA both within and among vesicles.

Instruments