Cryo-electron tomography pipeline for plasma membranes.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39833141.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-56045-z and PMC identifier 11747107.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) provides sub-nanometer protein structure within the dense cellular environment. Existing sample preparation methods are insufficient at accessing the plasma membrane and its associated proteins. Here, we present a correlative cryo-electron tomography pipeline optimally suited to image large ultra-thin areas of isolated basal and apical plasma membranes. The pipeline allows for angstrom-scale structure determination with subtomogram averaging and employs a genetically encodable rapid chemically-induced electron microscopy visible tag for marking specific proteins within the complex cellular environment. The pipeline provides efficient, distributable, low-cost sample preparation and enables targeted structural studies of identified proteins at the plasma membrane of mammalian cells.
Medical subject headings
- Electron Microscope Tomography
- Cell Membrane
- Cryoelectron Microscopy