title: A primer to single-particle cryo-electron microscopy.
abstract: Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) of single-particle specimens is used to determine the structure of proteins and macromolecular complexes without the need for crystals. Recent advances in detector technology and software algorithms now allow images of unprecedented quality to be recorded and structures to be determined at near-atomic resolution. However, compared with X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM is a young technique with distinct challenges. This primer explains the different steps and considerations involved in structure determination by single-particle cryo-EM to provide an overview for scientists wishing to understand more about this technique and the interpretation of data obtained with it, as well as a starting guide for new practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grigorieff
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 6.220, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Pawel A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Penczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: twalz@hms.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walz
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins