In-cell structure and snapshots of<i>copia</i>retrotransposons in intact tissue by cryo-electron tomography

Klumpe, Sven; Senti, Kirsten A.; Beck, Florian; Sachweh, Jenny; Hampoelz, Bernhard; Ronchi, Paolo; Yeroslaviz, Assa; Briggs, John A.G.; Brennecke, Julius; Beck, Martin; Plitzko, Jürgen M.

doi:10.1101/2024.02.21.581285

Cited by 3 publications

References 110 publications

(146 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Bridging structural biology and clinical research through in-tissue cryo-electron tomography

Kixmoeller,

Creekmore,

Lee

et al. 2024

EMBO J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Structural biology is a field of research that investigates the structure and organization of macromolecules to decipher their functional mechanisms. Traditionally, it has adopted a reductionist approach out of necessity, focusing on the high-resolution analysis of macromolecules outside their natural cellular contexts. This contrasts sharply with clinical research, which examines human biology holistically through patient studies and cellular disease models, albeit with less detailed structural insights. Recent advancements are bridging this gap, enabling the study of macromolecular structures within more complex biological systems, from single cells to multicellular organisms and primary human tissues. These developments signal a pivotal shift within structural biology from traditional methodologies towards a more integrated understanding of biological complexity. Here, we highlight recent technological advancements that facilitate structural studies in tissue environments, showcasing the discoveries made possible with these approaches and the prospect of their applications in human clinical research.

show abstract

Bridging structural biology and clinical research through in-tissue cryo-electron tomography

Kixmoeller,

Creekmore,

Lee

et al. 2024

EMBO J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Cryo-electron tomography: en route to the molecular anatomy of organisms and tissues

Schiøtz,

Klumpe,

Plitzko

et al. 2024

Biochemical Society Transactions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) has become a key technique for obtaining structures of macromolecular complexes in their native environment, assessing their local organization and describing the molecular sociology of the cell. While microorganisms and adherent mammalian cells are common targets for tomography studies, appropriate sample preparation and data acquisition strategies for larger cellular assemblies such as tissues, organoids or small model organisms have only recently become sufficiently practical to allow for in-depth structural characterization of such samples in situ. These advances include tailored lift-out approaches using focused ion beam (FIB) milling, and improved data acquisition schemes. Consequently, cryo-ET of FIB lamellae from large volume samples can complement ultrastructural analysis with another level of information: molecular anatomy. This review highlights the recent developments towards molecular anatomy studies using cryo-ET, and briefly outlines what can be expected in the near future.

show abstract

The small GTPase Ran defines Nuclear Pore Complex Asymmetry

Sachweh,

Börmel,

Klumpe

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) bridge across the nuclear envelope and mediate nucleocytoplasmic exchange. They consist of hundreds of nucleoporin building blocks and exemplify the structural complexity of macromolecular assemblies. To ensure transport directionality, different nucleoporin complexes are attached to the cytosolic and nuclear face of the NPC. How those asymmetric structures are faithfully assembled onto the symmetric scaffold architecture that exposes the same interaction surfaces to either side, remained enigmatic. Here we combine cryo-electron tomography, subtomogram averaging, and template matching with live cell imaging to address this question in budding yeast and Drosophila melanogaster. We genetically induce ectopic nuclear pores and show that pores outside the nuclear envelope are symmetric. We furthermore demonstrate that the peripheral NPC configuration depends on the nucleotide state of the small GTPase Ran. Our findings indicate that the nuclear transport system is self-regulatory, namely the same molecular mechanism controls both transport and transport channel composition.

show abstract

In-cell structure and snapshots ofcopiaretrotransposons in intact tissue by cryo-electron tomography

Cited by 3 publications

References 110 publications

Bridging structural biology and clinical research through in-tissue cryo-electron tomography

Bridging structural biology and clinical research through in-tissue cryo-electron tomography

Cryo-electron tomography: en route to the molecular anatomy of organisms and tissues

The small GTPase Ran defines Nuclear Pore Complex Asymmetry

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About