Subtomogram analysis: The sum of a tomogram’s particles reveals molecular structure in situ

Cryo-electron tomography is uniquely suited to provide insights into the molecular architecture of cells and tissue in the native state. While frozen hydrated specimens tolerate sufficient electron doses to distinguish different types of particles in a tomogram, the accumulating beam damage does not...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Friedrich Förster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Structural Biology: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590152422000046
Description
Summary:Cryo-electron tomography is uniquely suited to provide insights into the molecular architecture of cells and tissue in the native state. While frozen hydrated specimens tolerate sufficient electron doses to distinguish different types of particles in a tomogram, the accumulating beam damage does not allow resolving their detailed molecular structure individually. Statistical methods for subtomogram averaging and classification that coherently enhance the signal of particles corresponding to copies of the same type of macromolecular allow obtaining much higher resolution insights into macromolecules. Here, I review the developments in subtomogram analysis at Wolfgang Baumeister’s laboratory that make the dream of structural biology in the native cell become reality.
ISSN:2590-1524