title: Structural analysis of supramolecular assemblies by cryo-electron tomography.
abstract: Structural analysis of macromolecular assemblies in their physiological environment is a challenging task that is instrumental in answering fundamental questions in cellular and molecular structural biology. The continuous development of computational and analytical tools for cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) enables the study of these assemblies at a resolution of a few nanometers. Through the implementation of thinning procedures, cryo-ET can now be applied to the reconstruction of macromolecular structures located inside thick regions of vitrified cells and tissues, thus becoming a central tool for structural determinations in various biological disciplines. Here, we focus on the successful in situ applications of cryo-ET to reveal structures of macromolecular complexes within eukaryotic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harapin
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eibauer
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Medalia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D055032:Electron Microscope Tomography; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances