# Unraveling atomic complexity from frozen samples

**Authors:** Yasmeen N. Ruma, Brent L. Nannenga, Tamir Gonen

PMC · DOI: 10.1063/4.0000303 · Structural Dynamics · 2025-04-18

## TL;DR

This paper discusses the role and challenges of cryo-electron microscopy in structural biology.

## Contribution

The paper provides a perspective on the different branches and current challenges of cryo-EM.

## Key findings

- Cryo-EM includes methods like single particle analysis and cryo-electron tomography.
- The paper highlights the current challenges in cryo-EM techniques.

## Abstract

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a significant driver of recent advances in structural biology. Cryo-EM is comprised of several distinct and complementary methods, which include single particle analysis, cryo-electron tomography, and microcrystal electron diffraction. In this Perspective, we will briefly discuss the different branches of cryo-EM in structural biology and the current challenges in these areas.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** LIM2 (lens intrinsic membrane protein 2) [NCBI Gene 3982] {aka CTRCT19, MP17, MP19}, VN1R17P (vomeronasal 1 receptor 17 pseudogene) [NCBI Gene 441931] {aka GPCR}, ABCG2 (ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (JR blood group)) [NCBI Gene 9429] {aka ABC15, ABCP, BCRP, BMDP, CD338, CDw338}, MYD88 (MYD88 innate immune signal transduction adaptor) [NCBI Gene 4615] {aka IMD68, MYD88D, WM1}, SFTPA1 (surfactant protein A1) [NCBI Gene 653509] {aka COLEC4, ILD1, PSP-A, PSPA, SFTP1, SFTPA1B}, ADORA2A (adenosine A2a receptor) [NCBI Gene 135] {aka A2aR, ADORA2, RDC8}, TBK1 (TANK binding kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 29110] {aka AIARV, FTDALS4, IIAE8, NAK, T2K}, TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1) [NCBI Gene 7442] {aka VR1}, S (surface glycoprotein) [NCBI Gene 43740568] {aka spike glycoprotein}, SNCA (synuclein alpha) [NCBI Gene 6622] {aka NACP, PARK1, PARK4, PD1}, MBP (myelin basic protein) [NCBI Gene 4155], MAPT (microtubule associated protein tau) [NCBI Gene 4137] {aka DDPAC, FTD1, FTDP-17, MAPTL, MSTD, MTBT1}, CACNA1S (calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 S) [NCBI Gene 779] {aka CACNL1A3, CCHL1A3, CMYO18, CMYP18, Cav1.1, DHPRM}, CAT (catalase) [NCBI Gene 531682], CATSPER1 (cation channel sperm associated 1) [NCBI Gene 117144] {aka CATSPER, SPGF7}
- **Diseases:** hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (MESH:D006526), infection (MESH:D007239), sleeping sickness (MESH:D014353), amyloid (MESH:C000718787), ET (MESH:D016751), Alzheimer's disease (MESH:D000544), SINGLE PARTICLE ANALYSIS (MESH:D012640)
- **Chemicals:** 1-methyl-2-indanone (-), EM (MESH:D004961), Na+ (MESH:D012964), paritaprevir (MESH:C585405), carbamazepine (MESH:D002220), gallium (MESH:D005708), mirabegron (MESH:C520025), glucose (MESH:D005947), sugar (MESH:D000073893), simeprevir (MESH:D000069616), meclizine hydrochloride (MESH:D008468), carbon (MESH:D002244), ethane (MESH:D004980), pentamidine (MESH:D010419), 3-methyloxindole (MESH:C035500)
- **Species:** Halobacterium (genus) [taxon 2239], Trypanosoma brucei (species) [taxon 5691], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], PX clade (clade) [taxon 569578], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (no rank) [taxon 2697049]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12009148/full.md

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12009148/full.md

## References

141 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12009148/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12009148