Cryo-electron microscopy has transformed structural biology by allowing researchers to visualize proteins at near-atomic resolution. However, standard cryo-EM technology captures molecules only in equilibrium states. In reality, proteins move, change shape, and interact dynamically, all processes that determine how they function. These dynamics are central to drug discovery, where understanding transient structural states is critical for designing effective new medicines. Yet existing instruments struggle to capture rapid changes, particularly at the microsecond timescale where many biologically relevant processes occur.
Building on technology pioneered by Ulrich Lorenz, the Alpion team has developed a method that enables researchers to capture proteins mid-movement. Our laser-based system briefly melts vitrified samples, allowing proteins to undergo dynamics before rapidly refreezing them. This makes it possible to trap and image short-lived intermediate conformations that would otherwise remain invisible, providing a more complete structural picture and improving three-dimensional reconstructions. Compact and user-friendly, the instrument integrates seamlessly into standard cryo-EM workflows.
Alpion is now advancing this technology from a laboratory prototype to a robust pre-commercial instrument ready for pilot deployment.

Alpion CryoSolutions

Org chart

Teams

Offices