title: Visualizing macromolecular complexes with in situ liquid scanning transmission electron microscopy.
abstract: A central focus of biological research is understanding the structure/function relationship of macromolecular protein complexes. Yet conventional transmission electron microscopy techniques are limited to static observations. Here we present the first direct images of purified macromolecular protein complexes using in situ liquid scanning transmission electron microscopy. Our results establish the capability of this technique for visualizing the interface between biology and nanotechnology with high fidelity while also probing the interactions of biomolecules within solution. This method represents an important advancement towards allowing future high-resolution observations of biological processes and conformational dynamics in real-time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States. James.Evans@pnnl.gov
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Jungjohann
authors.forename: Peony C K
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Po-Lin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Gavin H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Dutrow
authors.forename: Ilke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Nigel D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Browning
mesh_terms: D001052:Apoferritins / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012996:Solutions; D005293:Ferritins; D001052:Apoferritins