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

FEBS Lett. 2010 Jun 18;584(12):2510-5. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.03.027. Epub 2010 Mar 19.

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 6 nm resolution and of chloroplast photosystem II at 3.5 nm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chloroplasts / metabolism
  • Chloroplasts / ultrastructure
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy / methods
  • Electron Microscope Tomography / methods
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron / methods*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Organelles / metabolism*
  • Organelles / ultrastructure*
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / metabolism
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / ultrastructure
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex