Cryoelectron Tomography of Eukaryotic Cells

Asaf Mader, Nadav Elad, Ohad Medalia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biological processes involve a high degree of protein dynamics resulting in a constant remodeling of the cellular landscape at the molecular level. Orchestrated changes lead to significant rearrangement of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton and nuclear structures. Visualization of the cellular landscape in the unperturbed state is essential for understanding these processes. The development of cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET) and its application to eukaryotic cells has provided a major step forward toward better realizing these processes. In conjunction with rapid freezing techniques, that is, vitrification by plunge-freezing and high-pressure freezing, cryo-ET is most suitable for investigating cellular ultrastructures in a close-to-life state. Here, we review the application of cryo-ET to the study of eukaryotic cells, with special emphasis on sample preparation, cytoskeleton organization, and macromolecular structures observed at a resolution of 4-6 nm.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMethods in Enzymology
PublisherAcademic Press Inc.
Pages245-265
Number of pages21
EditionC
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2010

Publication series

NameMethods in Enzymology
NumberC
Volume483
ISSN (Print)0076-6879

Keywords

  • Actin
  • Correlated microscopy
  • Cryoelectron tomography
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Microtubule
  • Nuclear pore complex

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

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