Structural analysis of filamentous complexes by cryo-electron microscopy

Abstract

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become one of the main tools in structural biology over the last decade. Nonetheless, the details of cryo-EM remain unknown to many researchers. Cryo-electron microscopes are very expensive. Therefore, owning, maintaining, or renewing a cryo-EM instrument in a single laboratory or university is often challenging. As has been done for synchrotrons, it is rational to introduce cryo-EM in shared facilities and allocate cryo-EM beamtimes to research teams. Shared cryo-EM systems have been established in several countries. However, sound knowledge of sample preparation is essential for achieving results using shared facilities, where the availability of beamtime is limited. In this review, we present the current state of cryo-EM for general users who do not have direct access to a cryo-electron microscope by reviewing the achieved structures (mainly filamentous complexes) and the ways to determine them.