title: Cellular structural biology as revealed by cryo-electron tomography.
abstract: Understanding the function of cellular machines requires a thorough analysis of the structural elements that underline their function. Electron microscopy (EM) has been pivotal in providing information about cellular ultrastructure, as well as macromolecular organization. Biological materials can be physically fixed by vitrification and imaged with cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) in a close-to-native condition. Using this technique, one can acquire three-dimensional (3D) information about the macromolecular architecture of cells, depict unique cellular states and reconstruct molecular networks. Technical advances over the last few years, such as improved sample preparation and electron detection methods, have been instrumental in obtaining data with unprecedented structural details. This presents an exciting opportunity to explore the molecular architecture of both individual cells and multicellular organisms at nanometer to subnanometer resolution. In this Commentary, we focus on the recent developments and in situ applications of cryo-ET to cell and structural biology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rossitza N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Irobalieva
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel omedalia@bioc.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Medalia
mesh_terms: D002477:Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods
keywords: Cryo-electron tomography; In situ structural determination; Macromolecular assemblies