FEBS Letters
Volume 584, Issue 12 , Pages 2510-2515, 18 June 2010

Imaging of organelles by electron microscopy reveals protein–protein interactions in mitochondria and chloroplasts

Edited by Jan Rydström

Electron Microscopy Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

Received 26 February 2010; accepted 15 March 2010. published online 19 March 2010.

Abstract 

Ongoing progress in electron microscopy (EM) offers now an opening to visualize cells at the nanoscale by cryo-electron tomography (ET). Large protein complexes can be resolved at near-atomic resolution by single particle averaging. Some examples from mitochondria and chloroplasts illustrate the possibilities with an emphasis on the membrane organization. Cryo-ET performed on non-chemically fixed, unstained, ice-embedded material can visualize specific large membrane protein complexes. In combination with averaging methods, 3D structures were calculated of mitochondrial ATP synthase at 6nm resolution and of chloroplast photosystem II at 3.5nm.

Keywords: Electron microscopy, Tomography, Single particle electron microscopy, Mitochondrion, Chloroplast, Supercomplex

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0014-5793(10)00239-5

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2010.03.027

FEBS Letters
Volume 584, Issue 12 , Pages 2510-2515, 18 June 2010

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution