Kazuyoshi Murata1, Matthias Wolf2. 1. National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan. Electronic address: kazum@nips.ac.jp. 2. Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 7542 Onna, Onna-Son, Kunigami, Okinawa 904-0411, Japan. Electronic address: matthias.wolf@oist.jp.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of what became today's standard for cryo-embedding of biological macromolecules at native conditions more than 30years ago, techniques and equipment have been drastically improved and the structure of biomolecules can now be studied at near atomic resolution by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) while capturing multiple dynamic states. Here we review the recent progress in cryo-EM for structural studies of dynamic biological macromolecules. SCOPE OF REVIEW: We provide an overview of the cryo-EM method and introduce contemporary studies to investigate biomolecular structure and dynamics, including examples from the recent literature. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Cryo-EM is a powerful tool for the investigation of biological macromolecular structures including analysis of their dynamics by using advanced image-processing algorithms. The method has become even more widely applicable with present-day single particle analysis and electron tomography. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The cryo-EM method can be used to determine the three-dimensional structure of biomacromolecules in near native condition at close to atomic resolution, and has the potential to reveal conformations of dynamic molecular complexes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Biophysical Exploration of Dynamical Ordering of Biomolecular Systems" edited by Dr. Koichi Kato.
BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of what became today's standard for cryo-embedding of biological macromolecules at native conditions more than 30years ago, techniques and equipment have been drastically improved and the structure of biomolecules can now be studied at near atomic resolution by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) while capturing multiple dynamic states. Here we review the recent progress in cryo-EM for structural studies of dynamic biological macromolecules. SCOPE OF REVIEW: We provide an overview of the cryo-EM method and introduce contemporary studies to investigate biomolecular structure and dynamics, including examples from the recent literature. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Cryo-EM is a powerful tool for the investigation of biological macromolecular structures including analysis of their dynamics by using advanced image-processing algorithms. The method has become even more widely applicable with present-day single particle analysis and electron tomography. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The cryo-EM method can be used to determine the three-dimensional structure of biomacromolecules in near native condition at close to atomic resolution, and has the potential to reveal conformations of dynamic molecular complexes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Biophysical Exploration of Dynamical Ordering of Biomolecular Systems" edited by Dr. Koichi Kato.
Authors: Doo Nam Kim; Nigel W Moriarty; Serdal Kirmizialtin; Pavel V Afonine; Billy Poon; Oleg V Sobolev; Paul D Adams; Karissa Sanbonmatsu Journal: J Struct Biol Date: 2019-07-03 Impact factor: 2.867
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