Cryo-electron tomography

Cryo-electron tomography (Cryo-ET) can be used to understand the structural biology of macromolecules in their native environment. While single particle analysis evolves and remains an important complementary technique to MX, cryo-ET helps to determine the spatial and temporal characteristics of individual macromolecular complexes and macrostructures in-situ. The technique can be used to look at protein compartments, vesicles, pore structures, organelles, etc within cells including plant cells, bacteria and eukaryotic cells (cellular cryo-ET). Moreover, the technique is also useful to image purified proteins and viruses to address heterogeneity (macromolecular cryo-ET).

In both cellular and macromolecular cryo-ET, a series of 2D images will be taken at the area of interest by rotating the sample up to +/- 60° °, known as a tilt series. This tilt series are aligned and reconstructed to a 3D volume, known as a tomogram.

In CM01, both cellular and macromolecular cryo-electron tomography will be performed for users’ samples.

Additionally, Cryo-ET has the potential to complement other techniques at the ESRF such as nano X-ray tomography (ID16A).