In the modern world of ever smaller devices and nanotechnology, electron crystallography emerges as the most important method capable of determining the structure of minute objects down to the size of individual atoms. Crystals of only a few millionths of a millimetre are studied. This is the first textbook explaining how this is done. Great attention is given to symmetry in crystals and how it manifests itself in electron microscopy and electron diffraction, and how this symmetry can be determined and taken advantage of in achieving improved electron microscopy images and solving crystal structures from electron diffraction patterns. Theory and practice are combined; experimental images, diffraction patterns, formulae and numerical data are discussed in parallel, giving the reader a complete understanding of what goes on inside the "black boxes" of computer programs. This up-to-date textbook contains the newest techniques in electron crystallography, including detailed descriptions and explanations of the recent remarkable successes in determining the very complex structures of zeolites and intermetallics. The controversial issue of whether there is phase information present in electron micrsocopy images or not is also resolved once and for all. The extensive appendices include computer labs which have been used at various courses at Stockholm University and international schools in electron crystallography, with applications to the textbook. Students can download image processing programs and follow these lab instructions to get a hands-on experience of electron crystallography.

During the last decade we have been witness to several exciting achievements in electron crystallography. This includes structural and charge density studies on organic molecules complicated inorganic and metallic materials in the amorphous, nano-, meso- and quasi-crystalline state and also development of new software, tailor-made for the special needs of electron crystallography. Moreover, these developments have been accompanied by a now available new generation of computer controlled electron microscopes equipped with high-coherent field-emission sources, cryo-specimen holders, ultra-fast CCD cameras, imaging plates, energy filters and even correctors for electron optical distortions. Thus, a fast and semi-automatic data acquisition from small sample areas, similar to what we today know from imaging plates diffraction systems in X-ray crystallography, can be envisioned for the very near future. This progress clearly shows that the contribution of electron crystallography is quite unique, as it enables to reveal the intimate structure of samples with high accuracy but on much smaller samples than have ever been investigated by X-ray diffraction. As a tribute to these tremendous recent achievements, this NATO Advanced Study Institute was devoted to the novel approaches of electron crystallography for structure determination of nanosized materials.

This book provides a complete introduction to all major topics needed in order to use electron microscopy as a research tool in structural biology. Written by a group of 5 well-known pioneers of the field of electron cryo-microscopy of biological macromolecules, this book offers a depth of knowledge and expertise that could only be replicated from the primary literature with great difficulty.

In the quantitative determination of new structures, micro-/nano-crystalline materials pose significant challenges. The different properties of materials are structure-dependent. Traditionally, X-ray crystallography has been used for the analysis of these materials. Electron diffraction is a technique that complements other techniques; for example, single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction for determination of structure. Electron diffraction plays a very important role when crystals are very small using single crystal X-ray diffraction or very complex for structure solution by powder X-ray diffraction. With the introduction of advanced methodologies, important methods for crystal structural analysis in the field of electron crystallography have been discovered, such as rotation electron diffraction (RED) and automated electron diffraction tomography (ADT). In recent years, large numbers of crystal structures have been solved using electron crystallography.

This authoritative text on electron diffraction and crystal structure analysis is the first to describe direct phasing techniques in electron crystallography. Written for electron diffractionists and electron microscopists, this fully illustrated volume presents methods for specimen preparation, data collection and structure analysis. Chapters feature numerous detailed examples of actual structure analyses and contain over 350 illustrations.

The re-emergent field of quantitative electron crystallography is described by some of its most eminent practitioners. They describe the theoretical framework for electron scattering, specimen preparation, experimental techniques for optimum data collection, the methodology of structure analysis and refinement, and a range of applications to inorganic materials (including minerals), linear polymers, small organic molecules (including those used in nonlinear optical devices), incommensurately modulated structures (including superconductors), alloys, and integral membrane proteins. The connection between electron crystallography and X-ray crystallography is clearly defined, especially in the utilisation of the latest methods for direct determination of crystallographic phases, as well as the unique role of image analysis of high-resolution electron micrographs for phase determination. Even the aspect of multiple beam dynamic diffraction (once dreaded because it was thought to preclude ab initio analysis) is considered as a beneficial aid for symmetry determination as well as the elucidation of crystallographic phases, and as a criterion for monitoring the progress of structure refinement. Whereas other texts have hitherto preferentially dealt with the analysis of electron diffraction and image data from thin organic materials, this work discusses - with considerable optimism - the prospects of looking at `harder' materials, composed of heavier atoms. Audience: Could be used with profit as a graduate-level course on electron crystallography. Researchers in the area will find a statement of current progress in the field.

Three-Dimensional Electron Microscopy of Macromolecular Assemblies is the first systematic introduction to single-particle methods of reconstruction. It covers correlation alignment, classification, 3D reconstruction, restoration, and interpretation of the resulting 3D images in macromolecular assemblies. It will be an indispensable resource for newcomers to the field and for all using or adopting these methods. Key Features* Presents methods that offer an alternative to crystallographic techniques for molecules that cannot be crystallized* Describes methods that have been instrumental in exploring the three-dimensional structure of* the nuclear pore complex* the calcium release channel;* the ribosome* chaperonins