Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron Tomography
The architecture of protein assemblies and their remodeling during physiological processes is fundamental to cells. Therefore, providing high-resolution snapshots of macromolecular complexes in their native environment is of major importance for understanding the molecular biology of the cell. Cellu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/1/57 |
| _version_ | 1797712472874942464 |
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| author | Miriam Sarah Weber Matthias Wojtynek Ohad Medalia |
| author_facet | Miriam Sarah Weber Matthias Wojtynek Ohad Medalia |
| author_sort | Miriam Sarah Weber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The architecture of protein assemblies and their remodeling during physiological processes is fundamental to cells. Therefore, providing high-resolution snapshots of macromolecular complexes in their native environment is of major importance for understanding the molecular biology of the cell. Cellular structural biology by means of cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) offers unique insights into cellular processes at an unprecedented resolution. Recent technological advances have enabled the detection of single impinging electrons and improved the contrast of electron microscopic imaging, thereby significantly increasing the sensitivity and resolution. Moreover, various sample preparation approaches have paved the way to observe every part of a eukaryotic cell, and even multicellular specimens, under the electron beam. Imaging of macromolecular machineries at high resolution directly within their native environment is thereby becoming reality. In this review, we discuss several sample preparation and labeling techniques that allow the visualization and identification of macromolecular assemblies in situ, and demonstrate how these methods have been used to study eukaryotic cellular landscapes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:22:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-854bd1e070284f69b30523720e91839b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:22:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-854bd1e070284f69b30523720e91839b2023-09-02T22:21:54ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092019-01-01815710.3390/cells8010057cells8010057Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron TomographyMiriam Sarah Weber0Matthias Wojtynek1Ohad Medalia2Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, SwitzerlandThe architecture of protein assemblies and their remodeling during physiological processes is fundamental to cells. Therefore, providing high-resolution snapshots of macromolecular complexes in their native environment is of major importance for understanding the molecular biology of the cell. Cellular structural biology by means of cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) offers unique insights into cellular processes at an unprecedented resolution. Recent technological advances have enabled the detection of single impinging electrons and improved the contrast of electron microscopic imaging, thereby significantly increasing the sensitivity and resolution. Moreover, various sample preparation approaches have paved the way to observe every part of a eukaryotic cell, and even multicellular specimens, under the electron beam. Imaging of macromolecular machineries at high resolution directly within their native environment is thereby becoming reality. In this review, we discuss several sample preparation and labeling techniques that allow the visualization and identification of macromolecular assemblies in situ, and demonstrate how these methods have been used to study eukaryotic cellular landscapes.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/1/57cryo-electron tomographyin situ structure determinationcytoskeletonnuclear envelopeintermediate filamentsfocused ion beam millingcorrelative light and electron microscopygold nanoparticles |
| spellingShingle | Miriam Sarah Weber Matthias Wojtynek Ohad Medalia Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron Tomography Cells cryo-electron tomography in situ structure determination cytoskeleton nuclear envelope intermediate filaments focused ion beam milling correlative light and electron microscopy gold nanoparticles |
| title | Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron Tomography |
| title_full | Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron Tomography |
| title_fullStr | Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron Tomography |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron Tomography |
| title_short | Cellular and Structural Studies of Eukaryotic Cells by Cryo-Electron Tomography |
| title_sort | cellular and structural studies of eukaryotic cells by cryo electron tomography |
| topic | cryo-electron tomography in situ structure determination cytoskeleton nuclear envelope intermediate filaments focused ion beam milling correlative light and electron microscopy gold nanoparticles |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/1/57 |
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