Subtomogram averaging from cryo-electron tomograms

Tools

Item Type:	Review
Title:	Subtomogram averaging from cryo-electron tomograms
Creators Name:	Leigh, K.E., Navarro, P.P., Scaramuzza, S., Chen, W., Zhang, Y., Castaño-Díez, D. and Kudryashev, M.
Abstract:	Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) allows three-dimensional (3D) visualization of frozen-hydrated biological samples, such as protein complexes and cell organelles, in near-native environments at nanometer scale. Protein complexes that are present in multiple copies in a set of tomograms can be extracted, mutually aligned, and averaged to yield a signal-enhanced 3D structure up to sub-nanometer or even near-atomic resolution. This technique, called subtomogram averaging (StA), is powered by improvements in EM hardware and image processing software. Importantly, StA provides unique biological insights into the structure and function of cellular machinery in close-to-native contexts. In this chapter, we describe the principles and key steps of StA. We briefly cover sample preparation and data collection with an emphasis on image processing procedures related to tomographic reconstruction, subtomogram alignment, averaging, and classification. We conclude by summarizing current limitations and future directions of this technique with a focus on high-resolution StA.
Keywords:	Cryo-Electron Tomography, Subtomogram Averaging, Sub-Nanometer Resolution, Image Processing, Tilt Series Alignment, Contrast Transfer Function, Tomogram Reconstruction, Classification, Algorithms, Software
Source:	Methods in Cell Biology
ISSN:	0091-679X
Publisher:	Elsevier
Volume:	152
Page Range:	217-259
Date:	2019
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mcb.2019.04.003
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

Repository Staff Only: item control page