University of Helsinki


University of Helsinki Infrastructure for Integrated Structural Biology


Finnish Infrastructure for Integrative Structural Biology is formed by three Centers of Excellence at the Universities of Helsinki, Oulu and Eastern Finland. We provide expert-supported access to services and technologies in sample preparation, characterization, and structure determination. The Finnish structural biology community is represented by the national consortium Instruct-FI, which is forming a national link to the Instruct-ERIC.

University of Helsinki provides expertise in integrated structural biology services to support research and innovation in life science. It offers different techniques for purification and analysis of biological complexes and their structures. Available expertise includes biomolecular complex purification; cryo-electron microscopy; nuclear magnetic resonance; and single cell proteomics. Our service is a joint operation of the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and HiLIFE-Institute of Biotechnology.

 

Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences & HiLIFE-Institute of Biotechnology

Viikinkaari 9

00790, Helsinki

Finland

www.helsinki.fi/en

Visitor information


How to find us

University of Helsinki facilities are located in the Biocenter 1 and Biocenter 3 at the multidisciplinary Viikki Campus in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Viikki campus hosts four faculties of the University of Helsinki and several governmental research institutions working in the field of life sciences.

Helsinki Airport is located in Vantaa, ~11 km from the Viikki Campus. Taxis are available outside the terminal. Other options include P or I trains, bus number 615 and the Finnair City bus to the main railway station in Helsinki. There are buses leaving from Rautatientori, next to the main railway station in the City Centre, to Viikki Campus. Travelling by bus takes ~15-20 minutes. For further information about travel to the facilities (link).

 


Flagship Service/Technology at University of Helsinki:

Biocomplex is specialized in macromolecular sample preparation and purification for functional and structural studies using preparative ultracentrifugation, monolithic chromatography and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation technologies. Biocomplex also actively develops new purification methods for large biopolymers, often in co-operation with manufacturers. Our technologies can be used in different combinations to purify large macromolecular complexes such as viruses, virus-like particles, viral subassemblies, exosomes, membrane vesicles, large protein complexes, and ribonucleoprotein complexes as an important first step in the structure analysis pipeline. Samples produced at Biocomplex can be further studied at the CryoEM facility located in the same building (see Electron Microscopy, Helsinki). We accept both visits and shipped samples. Please contact grp-biocomplexservice@helsinki.fi for enquiries.

 

 

Read More >>


View All Protein Production at Instruct



Other Services/Technologies at University of Helsinki:

CryoEM unit provides high-resolution imaging of nanoparticles, such as virus and protein complexes in the order of 100 kDa upwards (~5 to 300 nm in diameter). CryoEM is particularly useful for objects that are too large, unstable or variable to be studied by X-ray crystallography or NMR. It can be used to understand the structure, assembly and function of various biological macromolecule complexes. The site has over 20 years experience in the preparation and optimisation of samples for cryoEM. Access is especially suitable for those wanting to screen samples and get small prelimianary datasets that can be used as proof of principle for access to 300 kV machines or for longer data collection. Both genetically modified organisms and biosafety level 2 samples (Finnish criteria) can be handled but may require acquisition of permits per sample upto 40 days prior to handling. Correlative light microscopy and cryoEM is possible. We accept both visits and shipped samples. Biomolecular complexes studied by cryoEM can be purified in the Biocomplex purification facility located in the same building (see Biomolecular Complex Purification, Helsinki). Please contact grp-cryoemservice@helsinki.fi for enquiries.



Read More >>

View All Electron Microscopy at Instruct

The NMR facility provides services on the field of liquid NMR. The main focus area includes studies of structure and dynamics of biomacromolecules, but also other types of analyses are very well possible e.g. with broadband probe on 600 MHz.



Read More >>

View All Magnetic Resonance Techniques at Instruct

SCoPE-MS offers a revolutionary technique enabling global level identification and quantification of single cell proteome (>1000 proteins) using mass spectrometry, exceeding the by >ten-fold the identification capability of fluorescence or mass cytometry. Single cell technologies on DNA and RNA level have recently become extremely popular, the SCoPE-MS will extend this to protein/proteome level.



Read More >>

View All Mass Spectrometry at Instruct

Contacts

Sarah Butcher
Sarah Butcher
Science Contact
cryoEM Single particle cryoEM Electron Tomography
X-Ray Crystallography Microbiology virus-host interactions virus assembly Virus structure virus entry archaeal viruses bacteriophages picornaviruses flaviviruses coronaviruses

Login to contact
Minna Poranen
Minna Poranen
Science Contact
Molecular Virology Virus Production Virus Assembly
Login to contact
Hanna Oksanen
Hanna Oksanen
Science Contact, Admin Contact
Biomolecular complex purification Virus purification Molecular virology
viruses biomolecular complexes bacteriophages archaeal viruses virus-host interactions virus entry virus assembly

Login to contact
Markku Varjosalo
Markku Varjosalo
Science Contact
Proteomics Systems Biology Structural Genomics
Login to contact
Perttu Permi
Perttu Permi
Science Contact
NMR Structural Biology ITC calorimetry
NMR - Solution NMR-Protein-Ligand Interactions IDPs

Login to contact
Hannu Kauko
Hannu Kauko
Admin Contact

Login to contact
Kiran Ahmad
Kiran Ahmad
Admin Contact
Cryo EM Vitrification
Login to contact

Publications