High-resolution techniques such as cryogenic electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography have transformed structural biology, but even the most advanced instruments cannot compensate for poor sample quality. Heterogeneity, aggregation, and incorrect assembly remain major causes of failed experiments, making sample qualification a critical step before committing valuable time and resources to structural studies.
In this Tell Us What You Know episode, Brenda Watt from Refeyn discusses why sample quality is so important, the limitations of traditional qualification methods, and how mass photometry helps researchers quickly assess proteins and biomolecular complexes under native conditions.
Watch this episode to learn:
- Why sample quality determines structural biology success
- How mass photometry reveals protein assembly and heterogeneity
- Why AI-designed proteins require experimental validation
