title: Electron Cryo-microscopy as a Tool for Structure-Based Drug Development.
abstract: For decades, X-ray crystallography and NMR have been the most important techniques for studying the atomic structure of macromolecules. However, as a result of size, instability, low yield, and other factors, many macromolecules are difficult to crystallize or unsuitable for NMR studies. Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) does not depend on crystals and has therefore been the method of choice for many macromolecular complexes that cannot be crystallized, but atomic resolution has mostly been beyond its reach. A new generation of detectors that are capable of sensing directly the incident electrons has recently revolutionized the field, with structures of macromolecules now routinely being solved to near-atomic resolution. In this review, we summarize some of the most recent examples of high-resolution cryo-EM structures. We put particular emphasis on proteins with pharmacological relevance that have traditionally been inaccessible to crystallography. Furthermore, we discuss examples where interactions with small molecules have been fully characterized at atomic resolution. Finally, we stress the current limits of cryo-EM, and methodological issues related to its usage as a tool for drug development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4166-8747
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9373-3016
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raunser
mesh_terms: D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D000076722:Drug Development; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: cryo-EM; drug development; electron microscopy; pharmacological targets; structural biology