Developments in cryo-electron tomography for in situ structural analysis.
Structural analysis of macromolecular assemblies and their remodeling during physiological processes is instrumental to defining the fundament of cellular and molecular biology. Recent advances in computational and analytical tools for cryo-electron tomography have enabled the study of macromolecular structures in their native environment, providing unprecedented insights into cell function. Moreover, the recent implementation of direct electron detectors has progressed cryo-electron tomography to a stage where it can now be applied to the reconstruction of macromolecular structures at high resolutions. Here, we discuss some of the recent technical developments in cryo-electron tomography to reveal structures of macromolecular complexes in their physiological medium, focusing mainly on eukaryotic cells.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Anna
A
Dubrovsky
Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Simona
S
Sorrentino
Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Jan
J
Harapin
Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
K Tanuj
KT
Sapra
Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. Electronic address: omedalia@bioc.uzh.ch.
Ohad
O
Medalia
D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D055032:Electron Microscope Tomography / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*
Cryo-electron tomography; Cryo-focused-ion beam; Direct electron detector; Phase plate