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Microscopes focus on single electrons
- Author
- Published
- October 2004
- Page(s)
- 20–21
- Article Type
- Physics in Action
Article summary
For chemists, the starting point in understanding the function of a molecule is its structure. Molecular biologists are obsessed with structure as well. Their interest usually lies in determining the structure and function of proteins – the beautiful, machine-like molecules of life. However, nature's molecules tend to be so large that determining their detailed molecular structure can often take years. For example, after putting decades of effort into understanding membrane proteins – the gate-keepers of cells – we know the full 3D structure of only a handful of the thousands that exist, despite the fact that this is a prerequisite for defeating a huge number of diseases.