Post-workshop post (2024-11-12)
We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the workshop Basic Methodological Approaches in Structural Biology, that was organized by the Instruct.SI consortium on 5–7 November 2024 at the National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana. The workshop drew a high level of interest from participants, underscoring the value of foundational training in structural biology methodologies, and highlighting the field’s relevance and application in numerous scientific contexts. Each day more than 50 participant attended, with a peak of 69 participants on a single day.
The overwhelming interest and positive feedback from attendees strongly indicate a need for further workshops. Given this demand, we are considering to organize more advanced sessions in the future to address the growing interest and support skill-building in complex and specialized structural biology techniques.
Moments from the workshop are captured in the gallery below, and soon a booklet with abstracts of talks will be available online at this page.
Instruct.SI consortium is kindly inviting to a three-day workshop “Basics of Methodological Approaches in Structural Biology”, where atendees will be able to obtain or refresh basic knowledge on high-resolution structural biology approaches: macromolecular crystallography (MX), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
The workshop will be held from 5th to 7th November 2024 at the National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana, as the main workshop location.
Students and researchers, interested in structural biology—you are kindly invited!
More info is available below and in the official announcements:
- 1st announcement, published on 2024-09-17 (English and Slovene version)
- 2nd announcement including a detailed programme, published on 2024-10-08 (English and Slovene version)
Basic info and registration
- Registration is obligatory. You can register for all three main topics/days or just for one or two days.
- Deadline for registration is Thursday, October 24th, 2024!
- There is no fee! All costs are covered by the Instruct.SI consortium.
- There will be free coffee/tea and free lunches, plus a get-together on the last day of the workshop.
- The official language of the workshop will be English.
REGISTRATIONS CLOSED ON 2024-10-25
Last minute info: Participants are kindly asked to arrive at least 15 min before the start of the workshop.
Organising committee: Marjetka Podobnik (KI), Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT), Maja Jamnik (KI), Matic Kisovec (KI), Jošt Hočevar (UL FKKT)
Scientific committee: Marjetka Podobnik (KI), Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT)
Speakers (alphabetical list, abbreviations used in affiliations are listed at the ‘Organisers’ section of this page): Primož Bembič (KI), Andreja Kežar (KI), Matic Kisovec (KI), Vojč Kocman (KI), Neža Koritnik (KI), Anita Kotar (KI), Nataša Lindič (IJS), Damjan Makuc (KI), Maja Marušič (KI), Matej Novak (IJS), Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT), Marjetka Podobnik (KI), Gašper Šolinc (KI), Ajda Taler-Verčič (UL FKKT), Dušan Turk (IJS, CIPKeBiP), Aleksandra Usenik (IJS), Nada Žnidaršič (UL BF)
For any further information etc. please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail: instruct.si@ki.si (or directly via marjetka.podobnik@ki.si, miha.pavsic@fkkt.uni-lj.si, matic.kisovec@ki.si, maja.jamnik@ki.si)
Please note: Follow the communication channels (this website (most up-to-date), plus mailing list of Slovenian Biochemical Society, X social network profile of National Institute of Chemistry, and others) for any updates and further announcements.
Online storage for handouts and hands-on files: https://oblak.ki.si/index.php/s/VAmOlIaGgifSI1h (password to access the files will be given at the workshop)
Programme
Day 1 (Tue, Nov 5): Macromolecular Crystallography (MX)
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 9.00 | Marjetka Podobnik (KI), Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT): Welcome & general info |
| 9.15 | Dušan Turk (IJS, CIPKeBiP): Introduction to macromolecular crystallography |
| 9.45 | Ajda Taler-Verčič (UL FKKT): Target selection and construct design |
| 10.15 | coffee break |
| 10.45 | Nataša Lindič (IJS), Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT), Ajda Taler-Verčič (UL FKKT), Aleksandra Usenik (IJS): Protein production and purification |
| 11.30 | Aleksandra Usenik (IJS): Characterization of macromolecular samples |
| 12.00 | lunch break |
| 13.00 | Nataša Lindič (IJS): Crystallization, crystal harvesting, and preparation for data collection |
| 13.45 | Matej Novak (IJS): Diffraction data collection and processing |
| 14.15 | coffee break |
| 14.30 | Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT): Hands-on: Introduction to structure model building and refinement in macromolecular crystallography (see note below) |
| 15.30 | survey |
| 15.35 | walk to IJS |
| 15.55 | Tour: Crystallization robot and chamber, in-house X-ray machine (IJS) |
Day 2 (Wed, Nov 6): Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 9.00 | Marjetka Podobnik (KI), Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT): Welcome & general info |
| 9.05 | Anita Kotar (KI): The basics of NMR |
| 9.35 | Damjan Makuc (KI): Introduction to 1D and 2D NMR spectra |
| 10.05 | coffee break |
| 10.30 | Maja Marušič (KI): Production of DNA/RNA and protein molecules suitable for NMR structural characterization |
| 11.00 | Anita Kotar (KI): Strategies for assigment of DNA/RNA NMR spectra |
| 11.40 | Anita Kotar (KI): Strategies for assignment of protein NMR spectra |
| 12.20 | lunch break |
| 13.20 | Tour: NMR spectrometers and laboratories (KI) |
| 14.05 | Maja Marušič (KI): NMR’s time to shine: dynamics and conformational changes of molecules |
| 14.35 | Maja Marušič (KI): High-resolution structures of biomolecules constructed from NMR derived structural restraints |
| 15.05 | coffee break |
| 15.25 | Anita Kotar, Maja Marušič + others (all KI): Hands-on: NMR spectra recording demonstration and evaluating ligand-protein/DNA/RNA interactions (see note below) |
| 16.55 | survey |
Day 3 (Thu, Nov 7): Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM)
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 9.00 | Marjetka Podobnik (KI), Miha Pavšič (UL FKKT): Welcome & general info |
| 9.15 | Nada Žnidaršič (UL BF): Transmission electron microscopy – a look into structure from molecules to tissues |
| 10.05 | coffee break |
| 10.30 | Matic Kisovec (KI): Cryo-electron microscopy |
| 12.00 | lunch break |
| 13.00 | Matic Kisovec, Gašper Šolinc, Neža Koritnik (all KI): Tour and hands-on: sample preparation laboratories, vitrification laboratory, cryo-electron microscope (see note below) |
| 14.30 | coffee break |
| 15.00 | Gašper Šolinc (KI): Data analysis, structure determination I |
| 16.15 | break |
| 16.25 | Neža Koritnik, Andreja Kežar, Primož Bembič (all KI): Data analysis, structure determination II |
| 17.30 | survey |
| 17.35 | get-together |
Note: To follow the hands-on sections, please bring your own laptop, mouse is recommended. Wireless internet connection will be provided.
Abbreviations used in affiliations are listed at the ‘Organisers’ section of this page.
Organisers
Workshop is organised by the Instruct.SI consortium and co-workers from the following member institutions:
- National Institute of Chemistry (KI/NIC), Ljubljana
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (UL FKKT), Ljubljana
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty (UL BF), Ljubljana
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Ljubljana
- Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS/JSI), Ljubljana
Organisers thank to the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Republic of Slovenia, for financial support.
Photos
Here you can see some photos taken during the event.
Day 1 (5 Nov 2024)
Day 2 (6 Nov 2024)
Day 3 (7 Nov 2024)
