BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Transmission electron tomography is becoming a powerful tool for studying subcellular components of cells. Classical approaches for electron tomography consist of recording images along a single-tilt axis. This approach is being improved by dual-axis reconstructions and/or high-tilt devices (tilt angle>+/-60 degrees) on microscopes to compensate part of the information loss due to the 'missing wedge' phenomena. RESULTS: In the present work we have evaluated the extension of the dual-axis technique to a multiple-axis approach, and we demonstrate a freely available plug-in for the Java-based freeware image-analysis software ImageJ. Our results from phantom and experimental data sets from Paramecium tetraurelia epon-embedded sections have shown that multiple-axis tomography achieves results equivalent to those obtained by dual-axis approach without the requirement for high-tilt devices. CONCLUSIONS: This new approach allows performance of high-resolution tomography, avoiding the need for high-tilt devices, and therefore will increase the access of electron tomography to a larger community.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Transmission electron tomography is becoming a powerful tool for studying subcellular components of cells. Classical approaches for electron tomography consist of recording images along a single-tilt axis. This approach is being improved by dual-axis reconstructions and/or high-tilt devices (tilt angle>+/-60 degrees) on microscopes to compensate part of the information loss due to the 'missing wedge' phenomena. RESULTS: In the present work we have evaluated the extension of the dual-axis technique to a multiple-axis approach, and we demonstrate a freely available plug-in for the Java-based freeware image-analysis software ImageJ. Our results from phantom and experimental data sets from Paramecium tetraurelia epon-embedded sections have shown that multiple-axis tomography achieves results equivalent to those obtained by dual-axis approach without the requirement for high-tilt devices. CONCLUSIONS: This new approach allows performance of high-resolution tomography, avoiding the need for high-tilt devices, and therefore will increase the access of electron tomography to a larger community.
Authors: Jesús G Galaz-Montoya; Corey W Hecksel; Philip R Baldwin; Eryu Wang; Scott C Weaver; Michael F Schmid; Steven J Ludtke; Wah Chiu Journal: J Struct Biol Date: 2016-03-22 Impact factor: 2.867
Authors: Carlos Oscar Sanchez Sorzano; Cédric Messaoudi; Matthias Eibauer; J R Bilbao-Castro; R Hegerl; S Nickell; S Marco; J M Carazo Journal: BMC Bioinformatics Date: 2009-04-27 Impact factor: 3.169
Authors: Cédric Messaoudii; Thomas Boudier; Carlos Oscar Sanchez Sorzano; Sergio Marco Journal: BMC Bioinformatics Date: 2007-08-06 Impact factor: 3.169