title: Insights into the molecular organization of the neuron by cryo-electron tomography.
abstract: Despite great progress in the identification and characterization of the key molecular players in neuronal function, remarkably little is known about their supramolecular organization. Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), providing three-dimensional views of the molecular components of the cell in their native, fully hydrated environment, is uniquely positioned to elucidate the native architecture of the molecular machinery of the neuron. In our laboratory, we employ cryo-ET to study neuronal morphology in a variety of experimental systems and develop methods to extract quantitative and functional information from tomographic data. This approach has allowed us to shed light onto the intricate organization of the molecules of the synaptic cleft and the presynaptic cytomatrix, providing evidence for their functional roles. Also, cryo-ET of cultured neurons is beginning to open new perspectives on neuronal ultrastructure and the architecture of synaptic complexes in situ. Here, we will review these findings and discuss future directions towards the elucidation of the molecular landscape of the neuron.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Busnadiego
authors.forename: Nikolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schrod
authors.forename: Zdravko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kochovski
authors.forename: Shoh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanhecke
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.forename: Vladan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lucic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D055032:Electron Microscope Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D004705:Endocytosis; D005089:Exocytosis; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C498630:PCLO protein, human