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Cryo-electron Microscopy

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2025

Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy: From Sample to Structure

Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy: From Sample to Structure

Published on: May 29, 2021

Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy structure determination for membrane proteins.

Chih-Ta Chien¹, Merritt Maduke², Wah Chiu³

¹National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

|April 14, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) advances membrane protein structural studies. Innovations in sample preparation and data processing enable near-atomic resolution of these vital, yet challenging, biomolecules.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2025

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Published on: February 27, 2020

Area of Science:

Structural Biology
Biochemistry
Molecular Biophysics

Background:

Membrane proteins are essential for cellular functions but difficult to study structurally.
Their instability and amphipathic nature pose significant challenges for traditional methods.
Crystallization is often not feasible for membrane protein structural determination.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for membrane protein structure determination.
To highlight innovations in sample preparation and data processing techniques for cryo-EM.
To discuss the application of cryo-EM in understanding membrane protein dynamics, interactions, and functions.

Main Methods:

Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is the primary technique discussed.
Emphasis on optimized membrane sample preparation methods.
Advanced data processing strategies for improved resolution and analysis.

Main Results:

Cryo-EM provides near-atomic resolution structures of membrane proteins without crystallization.
Innovations allow capturing structures in native-like environments.
Analysis of protein dynamics, binding partners, lipid interactions, and response to gradients is enhanced.

Conclusions:

Cryo-EM is revolutionizing membrane protein structural biology.
These advancements deepen our understanding of crucial biomolecules.
Structural insights from cryo-EM support basic and translational biomedical research.