Cryo-Talk Cryo-Talk interviews Rhys Grinter (Monash University)
10 snips
Aug 16, 2023 
Rhys Grinter, a lab head at Monash University, dives into the fascinating world of cryo-EM and its role in studying bacterial proteins. He reveals how an enzyme can convert air into electricity and shares the structural insights gained through cryo-EM. Rhys discusses his journey from PhD in Glasgow to making scientific discoveries while enjoying travel and cooking. From his favorite travel spots like Kangaroo Island to recipe tips for a perfect lamb shoulder, Rhys balances science with passion and practical advice for aspiring researchers.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Bacteria Power From Trace Atmospheric Hydrogen
- Soil bacteria scavenge trace hydrogen (~0.5 ppm) as an auxiliary energy source when starved.
- Rhys Grinter's team showed an enzyme can oxidize that atmospheric hydrogen and convert it into usable cellular electricity.
Enzyme Converts Air Hydrogen Into Electricity
- The isolated enzyme can convert trace hydrogen into electrical energy measurable in assays.
- That mechanistic proof opens routes to develop hydrogen-oxidizing fuel cells or power devices from ambient air.
Cryo-EM Enabled Structure Of A Large Flexible Complex
- The hydrogenase complex is large (~800 kDa), membrane-associated and flexible, making it unsuitable for crystallography.
- Cryo-EM allowed structure determination from limited material and flexible assemblies that crystallography couldn't access.
