Abstract
The advent of cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) signified a breakthrough in the in situ imaging of hydrated specimens of biological and synthetic origin allowing their study in a state of preservation that is close to native. An inherent limitation to cryoTEM, however, is that images are 2-dimensional projections of the 3-dimensional objects, resulting in the overlapping of multiple features that cannot be discerned. Cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) is essential to overcome this limitation. In this technique images of the specimen are acquired at different tilt angles and then reconstructed into the 3-dimensional object, revealing detailed information on the structure, morphology or 3-dimensional spatial organization of (bio) macromolecules and (macro) molecular assemblies. This information then can be coupled to processes happening in the 3-dimensional space, making cryoET an invaluable tool to bridge between the structural organization in space and the function or activity of macromolecular complexes at the nanometre scale.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 17-24 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Soft Matter |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- TRANSMISSION ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY
- MULTICOMPARTMENT MICELLES
- CRYO-TEM
- COPOLYMERS
- PEPTIDE
- CACO3
- WATER
- MONOLAYERS
- LIPOSOMES
- CELLS