Structural Biology

Friedrich Förster

Research Group

Friedrich Förster
I am interested in visualizing molecular processes in the cell by cryo-electron microscopy approaches. I develop and apply 3D image processing methods to get most out of our data.
Group name: Cryo-electron Microscopy
Research field: Structural Biology
Structural Biology

Contact

Padualaan 8
3584 CH
Utrecht
Department / Institute: Bijvoet Center for biomolecular research
Office: O804
Building: Kruytgebouw
f.g.forster@uu.nl
https://www.uu.nl/en/research/cryo-em

Our Research

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a key imaging modality for studying the structures of macromolecular complexes in their physiological environment. In the cryo-EM group we aim at a structural understanding of processes associated with cellular membranes. To this end we make use of single particle cryo-EM and in particular cryo-electron tomography (ET) approaches. While single particle cryo-EM is an excellent approach to study isolated complexes at near-atomic resolution, cryo-ET allows imaging complexes in their native settings, such as organelle and plasma membrane. We actively develop methodology for in situ structural biology and apply it to understand processes such as membrane-associated protein biogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.