Understanding the 3D architecture of organelle bound protein complexes using cryo-electron tomography of frozen hydrated sections and immunogold; our next great challenge

Abstract

One of the focal points of our group is to reveal the macromolecular organisation of cells by means of cryo-electron tomography. This is the only method that can be used to obtain molecular resolution information of intact cells constituencies in a near-native situation. The tomogram contains a 3D map of the cellular proteome and we are just beginning to explore its potential after we worked for a few years on some technical hurdles of specimen preparation. The other central point of our group is to localize gene product in cellular structures by EM at the highest resolution with gold probes on cryosections. Our main focus is on understanding the molecular machinery and organization within the endomembrane system. We concentrate our work on the transport mechanism within the endocytic pathway and the link to pathogenesis. Cryo-electron tomography of unfixed frozen hydrated cryo-sections and cryo immunogold-EM of aldehyde fixed cells are our main techniques, which allow the subcellular detection and visualization of molecular machines at the highest resolution.