Mapping the conformations of biological assemblies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method for high-resolution mapping of biological conformations, addressing limitations of current techniques and enhancing understanding of biological function.

Contribution

It presents a new approach that improves conformational determination of biological assemblies using existing experimental methods.

Findings

Enables high-resolution conformational mapping

Potential to overcome radiation damage limits

Applicable to molecules, assemblies, and cells

Abstract

Mapping conformational heterogeneity of macromolecules presents a formidable challenge to X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, which often presume its absence. This has severely limited our knowledge of the conformations assumed by biological systems and their role in biological function, even though they are known to be important. We propose a new approach to determining to high resolution the three-dimensional conformations of biological entities such as molecules, macromolecular assemblies, and ultimately cells, with existing and emerging experimental techniques. This approach may also enable one to circumvent current limits due to radiation damage and solution purification.