1
|
Galaz-Montoya JG. The advent of preventive high-resolution structural histopathology by artificial-intelligence-powered cryogenic electron tomography. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1390858. [PMID: 38868297 PMCID: PMC11167099 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1390858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) single particle analysis have revolutionized structural biology by facilitating the in vitro determination of atomic- and near-atomic-resolution structures for fully hydrated macromolecular complexes exhibiting compositional and conformational heterogeneity across a wide range of sizes. Cryogenic electron tomography (cryoET) and subtomogram averaging are rapidly progressing toward delivering similar insights for macromolecular complexes in situ, without requiring tags or harsh biochemical purification. Furthermore, cryoET enables the visualization of cellular and tissue phenotypes directly at molecular, nanometric resolution without chemical fixation or staining artifacts. This forward-looking review covers recent developments in cryoEM/ET and related technologies such as cryogenic focused ion beam milling scanning electron microscopy and correlative light microscopy, increasingly enhanced and supported by artificial intelligence algorithms. Their potential application to emerging concepts is discussed, primarily the prospect of complementing medical histopathology analysis. Machine learning solutions are poised to address current challenges posed by "big data" in cryoET of tissues, cells, and macromolecules, offering the promise of enabling novel, quantitative insights into disease processes, which may translate into the clinic and lead to improved diagnostics and targeted therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesús G. Galaz-Montoya
- Department of Bioengineering, James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cebi E, Lee J, Subramani VK, Bak N, Oh C, Kim KK. Cryo-electron microscopy-based drug design. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1342179. [PMID: 38501110 PMCID: PMC10945328 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1342179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Structure-based drug design (SBDD) has gained popularity owing to its ability to develop more potent drugs compared to conventional drug-discovery methods. The success of SBDD relies heavily on obtaining the three-dimensional structures of drug targets. X-ray crystallography is the primary method used for solving structures and aiding the SBDD workflow; however, it is not suitable for all targets. With the resolution revolution, enabling routine high-resolution reconstruction of structures, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as a promising alternative and has attracted increasing attention in SBDD. Cryo-EM offers various advantages over X-ray crystallography and can potentially replace X-ray crystallography in SBDD. To fully utilize cryo-EM in drug discovery, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of this technique and noting the key advancements in the field are crucial. This review provides an overview of the general workflow of cryo-EM in SBDD and highlights technical innovations that enable its application in drug design. Furthermore, the most recent achievements in the cryo-EM methodology for drug discovery are discussed, demonstrating the potential of this technique for advancing drug development. By understanding the capabilities and advancements of cryo-EM, researchers can leverage the benefits of designing more effective drugs. This review concludes with a discussion of the future perspectives of cryo-EM-based SBDD, emphasizing the role of this technique in driving innovations in drug discovery and development. The integration of cryo-EM into the drug design process holds great promise for accelerating the discovery of new and improved therapeutic agents to combat various diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Changsuk Oh
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
de la Cruz MJ, Eng ET. Scaling up cryo-EM for biology and chemistry: The journey from niche technology to mainstream method. Structure 2023; 31:1487-1498. [PMID: 37820731 PMCID: PMC10841453 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) methods have made meaningful contributions in a wide variety of scientific research fields. In structural biology, cryo-EM routinely elucidates molecular structure from isolated biological macromolecular complexes or in a cellular context by harnessing the high-resolution power of the electron in order to image samples in a frozen, hydrated environment. For structural chemistry, the cryo-EM method popularly known as microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) has facilitated atomic structure generation of peptides and small molecules from their three-dimensional crystal forms. As cryo-EM has grown from an emerging technology, it has undergone modernization to enable multimodal transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques becoming more routine, reproducible, and accessible to accelerate research across multiple disciplines. We review recent advances in modern cryo-EM and assess how they are contributing to the future of the field with an eye to the past.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Jason de la Cruz
- Structural Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Edward T Eng
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yonekura K, Maki-Yonekura S, Takaba K. Applications and limitations of electron 3D crystallography. Structure 2023; 31:1328-1334. [PMID: 37797620 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) is a measurement and analysis technique in transmission electron microscopy that is used for determining atomic structures from small crystals. Diverse targets such as proteins, polypeptides, and organic compounds, whose crystals exist in aqueous solutions and organic solvents, or as dried powders, can be studied with 3D ED. We have been involved in the development of this technique, which can now rapidly process a large number of data collected through AI control, enabling efficient structure determination. Here, we introduce this method and describe our recent results. These include the structures and pathogenic mechanisms of wild-type and mutant polypeptides associated with the debilitating disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the double helical structure of nanographene promoting nanofiber formation, and the structural properties of an organic semiconductor containing disordered regions. We also discuss the limitations and prospects of 3D ED compared to microcrystallography with X-ray free electron lasers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan; Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Saori Maki-Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan; Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Takaba
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Maki-Yonekura S, Kawakami K, Takaba K, Hamaguchi T, Yonekura K. Measurement of charges and chemical bonding in a cryo-EM structure. Commun Chem 2023; 6:98. [PMID: 37258702 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00900-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen bonding, bond polarity, and charges in protein molecules play critical roles in the stabilization of protein structures, as well as affecting their functions such as enzymatic catalysis, electron transfer, and ligand binding. These effects can potentially be measured in Coulomb potentials using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). We here present charges and bond properties of hydrogen in a sub-1.2 Å resolution structure of a protein complex, apoferritin, by single-particle cryo-EM. A weighted difference map reveals positive densities for most hydrogen atoms in the core region of the complex, while negative densities around acidic amino-acid side chains are likely related to negative charges. The former positive densities identify the amino- and oxo-termini of asparagine and glutamine side chains. The latter observations were verified by spatial-resolution selection and a dose-dependent frame series. The average position of the hydrogen densities depends on the parent bonded-atom type, and this is validated by the estimated level of the standard uncertainties in the bond lengths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saori Maki-Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kawakami
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Takaba
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Tasuku Hamaguchi
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan.
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan.
- Advanced Electron Microscope Development Unit, RIKEN-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN Baton Zone Program, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chari A, Stark H. Prospects and Limitations of High-Resolution Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy. Annu Rev Biophys 2023; 52:391-411. [PMID: 37159297 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-111622-091300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has matured into a robust method for the determination of biological macromolecule structures in the past decade, complementing X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Constant methodological improvements in both cryo-EM hardware and image processing software continue to contribute to an exponential growth in the number of structures solved annually. In this review, we provide a historical view of the many steps that were required to make cryo-EM a successful method for the determination of high-resolution protein complex structures. We further discuss aspects of cryo-EM methodology that are the greatest pitfalls challenging successful structure determination to date. Lastly, we highlight and propose potential future developments that would improve the method even further in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwin Chari
- Research Group for Structural Biochemistry and Mechanisms, Max-Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger Stark
- Department of Structural Dynamics, Max-Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Takaba K, Maki-Yonekura S, Inoue I, Tono K, Hamaguchi T, Kawakami K, Naitow H, Ishikawa T, Yabashi M, Yonekura K. Structural resolution of a small organic molecule by serial X-ray free-electron laser and electron crystallography. Nat Chem 2023; 15:491-497. [PMID: 36941396 PMCID: PMC10719108 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01162-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Structure analysis of small crystals is important in areas ranging from synthetic organic chemistry to pharmaceutical and material sciences, as many compounds do not yield large crystals. Here we present the detailed characterization of the structure of an organic molecule, rhodamine-6G, determined at a resolution of 0.82 Å by an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). Direct comparison of this structure with that obtained by electron crystallography from the same sample batch of microcrystals shows that both methods can accurately distinguish the position of some of the hydrogen atoms, depending on the type of chemical bond in which they are involved. Variations in the distances measured by XFEL and electron diffraction reflect the expected differences in X-ray and electron scatterings. The reliability for atomic coordinates was found to be better with XFEL, but the electron beam showed a higher sensitivity to charges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kensuke Tono
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tasuku Hamaguchi
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Aoba-ku, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Makina Yabashi
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Koji Yonekura
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan.
- Advanced Electron Microscope Development Unit, RIKEN-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN Baton Zone Program, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan.
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Aoba-ku, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fréchin L, Holvec S, von Loeffelholz O, Hazemann I, Klaholz BP. High-resolution cryo-EM performance comparison of two latest-generation cryo electron microscopes on the human ribosome. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:107905. [PMID: 36241135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent technological advances in cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have led to new opportunities in the structural biology field. Here we benchmark the performance of two 300 kV latest-generation cryo electron microscopes, Titan Krios G4 from Thermofisher Scientific and CRYO ARM 300 from Jeol, with regards to achieving high resolution single particle reconstructions on a real case sample. We compare potentially limiting factors such as drift rates, astigmatism & coma aberrations and performance during image processing and show that both microscopes, while comprising rather different technical setups & parameter settings and equipped with different types of energy filters & cameras, achieve a resolution of around 2 Å on the human ribosome, a non-symmetric object which constitutes a key drug target. Astigmatism correction, CTF refinement and correction of higher order aberrations through refinement in separate optics groups helped to account for astigmatism/coma caused by beam tilting during multi-spot and multi-hole acquisition in neighbouring holes without stage movement. The obtained maps resolve Mg2+ ions, water molecules, inhibitors and side-chains including chemical modifications. The fact that both instruments can resolve such detailed features will greatly facilitate understanding molecular mechanisms of various targets and helps in cryo-EM structure based drug design. The methods and analysis tools used here will be useful also to characterize existing instruments and optimize data acquisition settings and are applicable broadly to other drug targets in structural biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Léo Fréchin
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7104, Illkirch, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U964, Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Samuel Holvec
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7104, Illkirch, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U964, Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ottilie von Loeffelholz
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7104, Illkirch, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U964, Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Isabelle Hazemann
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7104, Illkirch, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U964, Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bruno P Klaholz
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7104, Illkirch, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U964, Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cryo-electron structures of the extreme thermostable enzymes Sulfur Oxygenase Reductase and Lumazine Synthase. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275487. [PMID: 36191023 PMCID: PMC9529111 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermostable enzymes have the potential for use in a wide variety of biotechnological applications. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) enables the imaging of biomolecules in their native aqueous environment. Here, we present high resolution cryo-EM structures of two thermostable enzymes that exhibit multimeric cage-like structures arranged into two different point-group symmetries. First, we determined the structure of the Sulfur Oxygenase Reductase (SOR) enzyme that catalyzes both the oxygenation and disproportionation of elemental sulfur in Archea and is composed of 24 homomeric units each of MW ≃ 35 kDa arranged in octahedral symmetry. The structure of SOR from Acidianus ambivalens (7X9W) was determined at 2.78 Å resolution. The active site of each subunit inside the central nanocompartment is composed of Fe3+ coordinated to two water molecules and the three amino acids (H86, H90 and E114). Second, we determined the structure of Lumazine Synthase (LS) from Aquifex aeolicus (7X7M) at 2.33 Å resolution. LS forms a cage-like structure consisting of 60 identical subunits each of MW ≃ 15 kDa arranged in a strict icosahedral symmetry. The LS subunits are interconnected by ion-pair network. Due to their thermostability and relatively easy purification scheme, both SOR and LS can serve as a model for the catalytic and structural characterization of biocatalysts as well as a benchmark for cryo-EM sample preparation, optimization of the acquisition parameters and 3D reconstruction.
Collapse
|
10
|
Xu Y, Dang S. Recent Technical Advances in Sample Preparation for Single-Particle Cryo-EM. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:892459. [PMID: 35813814 PMCID: PMC9263182 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.892459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryo-sample preparation is a vital step in the process of obtaining high-resolution structures of macromolecules by using the single-particle cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM) method; however, cryo-sample preparation is commonly hampered by high uncertainty and low reproducibility. Specifically, the existence of air-water interfaces during the sample vitrification process could cause protein denaturation and aggregation, complex disassembly, adoption of preferred orientations, and other serious problems affecting the protein particles, thereby making it challenging to pursue high-resolution 3D reconstruction. Therefore, sample preparation has emerged as a critical research topic, and several new methods for application at various preparation stages have been proposed to overcome the aforementioned hurdles. Here, we summarize the methods developed for enhancing the quality of cryo-samples at distinct stages of sample preparation, and we offer insights for developing future strategies based on diverse viewpoints. We anticipate that cryo-sample preparation will no longer be a limiting step in the single-particle cryo-EM field as increasing numbers of methods are developed in the near future, which will ultimately benefit the entire research community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Xu
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shangyu Dang
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
- Center of Systems Biology and Human Health, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Shangyu Dang,
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kato K, Hamaguchi T, Nagao R, Kawakami K, Ueno Y, Suzuki T, Uchida H, Murakami A, Nakajima Y, Yokono M, Akimoto S, Dohmae N, Yonekura K, Shen JR. Structural basis for the absence of low-energy chlorophylls in a photosystem I trimer from Gloeobacter violaceus. eLife 2022; 11:73990. [PMID: 35404232 PMCID: PMC9000952 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Photosystem I (PSI) is a multi-subunit pigment-protein complex that functions in light-harvesting and photochemical charge-separation reactions, followed by reduction of NADP to NADPH required for CO2 fixation in photosynthetic organisms. PSI from different photosynthetic organisms has a variety of chlorophylls (Chls), some of which are at lower-energy levels than its reaction center P700, a special pair of Chls, and are called low-energy Chls. However, the sites of low-energy Chls are still under debate. Here, we solved a 2.04-Å resolution structure of a PSI trimer by cryo-electron microscopy from a primordial cyanobacterium Gloeobacter violaceus PCC 7421, which has no low-energy Chls. The structure shows the absence of some subunits commonly found in other cyanobacteria, confirming the primordial nature of this cyanobacterium. Comparison with the known structures of PSI from other cyanobacteria and eukaryotic organisms reveals that one dimeric and one trimeric Chls are lacking in the Gloeobacter PSI. The dimeric and trimeric Chls are named Low1 and Low2, respectively. Low2 is missing in some cyanobacterial and eukaryotic PSIs, whereas Low1 is absent only in Gloeobacter. These findings provide insights into not only the identity of low-energy Chls in PSI, but also the evolutionary changes of low-energy Chls in oxyphototrophs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koji Kato
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University
| | | | - Ryo Nagao
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University
| | | | | | - Takehiro Suzuki
- Biomolecular Characterization Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
| | | | - Akio Murakami
- Graduate School of Science, Kobe University
- Research Center for Inland Seas, Kobe University
| | - Yoshiki Nakajima
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University
| | - Makio Yokono
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University
| | | | - Naoshi Dohmae
- Biomolecular Characterization Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University
- Advanced Electron Microscope Development Unit, RIKEN-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN Baton Zone Program
| | - Jian-Ren Shen
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ishii N. Systematic Investigation of Lanthanoid Transition Heavy Metal Acetates as Electron Staining Reagents for Protein Molecules in Biological Transmission Electron Microscopy. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2022; 28:1-10. [PMID: 35361294 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927622000411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cryo-electron microscopy, widely used for high-resolution protein structure determination, does not require staining. Yet negative staining with heavy metal salts such as uranyl acetate has been in persistent demand since the 1950s due to its image contrasting capabilities at room temperature with a common electron microscope. However, uranium compounds are nuclear fuel materials and are tightly controlled worldwide. Acetates of each lanthanoid series elements except promethium are prepared at the same concentration (2%(w/v)) and used as a model on horse spleen ferritin for electron microscopic analysis to systematically evaluate their effectiveness as electron staining reagents for the protein. Analysis shows that the triacetates of samarium and europium, followed by gadolinium and erbium, and then lanthanum and neodymium could function as electron staining reagents. Thulium-triacetate precipitates thin plate-like crystals and may be used for selecting better imaging fields. Of the 14 lanthanoid-triacetates examined, about half are viable alternatives to uranyl acetate as an electron staining reagent for ferritin, and there appears an optimal range in ionic sizes for promising lanthanoids. This is the first systematic investigation of lanthanoid transition heavy metal triacetates from the viewpoint of lanthanoid contraction, using density distribution histograms of electron micrographs as an indicator for comparison with uranyl acetate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noriyuki Ishii
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central-6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki305-8566, Japan
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Open Research Facilities Station, Open Research Platform Unit, Tsukuba Innovation Arena (TIA) Central Office, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki305-8566, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City, Gifu501-1193, Japan
- Human Resources Bureau, National Personnel Authority, 1-2-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo100-8913, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ravikumar A, Gopnarayan MN, Subramaniam S, Srinivasan N. Comparison of side-chain dispersion in protein structures determined by cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography. IUCRJ 2022; 9:98-103. [PMID: 35059214 PMCID: PMC8733892 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252521011945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
An evaluation of systematic differences in local structure and conformation in the interior of protein tertiary structures determined by crystallography and by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is reported. The expectation is that any consistent differences between the derived atomic models could provide insights into variations in side-chain packing that result from differences in specimens prepared for analysis between these two methods. By computing an atomic packing score, which provides a quantitative measure of clustering of side-chain atoms in the core of the tertiary structures, it is found that, in general, for structures determined by cryo-EM, side chains are more dispersed than in structures determined by X-ray crystallography over a similar resolution range. This trend is also observed in the packing comparison at subunit interfaces. Similar trends were observed in the packing comparison at the core of tertiary structures of the same proteins determined by both X-ray and cryo-EM methods. It is proposed here that the reduced dispersion of side chains in protein crystals could be due to some level of dehydration in 3D crystals prepared for X-ray crystallography and also because the higher rate of freezing of protein samples for cryo-EM may enable preservation of a more native conformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashraya Ravikumar
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Sriram Subramaniam
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Machine learning-based real-time object locator/evaluator for cryo-EM data collection. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1044. [PMID: 34493805 PMCID: PMC8423793 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02577-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data collection, locating a target object is error-prone. Here, we present a machine learning-based approach with a real-time object locator named yoneoLocr using YOLO, a well-known object detection system. Implementation shows its effectiveness in rapidly and precisely locating carbon holes in single particle cryo-EM and in locating crystals and evaluating electron diffraction (ED) patterns in automated cryo-electron crystallography (cryo-EX) data collection. The proposed approach will advance high-throughput and accurate data collection of images and diffraction patterns with minimal human operation. Yonekura et al. present yoneoLocr, a machine learning-based real-time object locator for rapidly and precisely locating carbon holes and crystals for facilitating automated SPA or cryo-EX data collection.
Collapse
|
15
|
Gijsbers A, Zhang Y, Gao Y, Peters PJ, Ravelli RBG. Mycobacterium tuberculosis ferritin: a suitable workhorse protein for cryo-EM development. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:1077-1083. [PMID: 34342280 PMCID: PMC8329864 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321007233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of cryo-EM continues to expand worldwide and calls for good-quality standard proteins with simple protocols for their production. Here, a straightforward expression and purification protocol is presented that provides an apoferritin, bacterioferritin B (BfrB), from Mycobacterium tuberculosis with high yield and purity. A 2.12 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of BfrB is reported, showing the typical cage-like oligomer constituting of 24 monomers related by 432 symmetry. However, it also contains a unique C-terminal extension (164-181), which loops into the cage region of the shell and provides extra stability to the protein. Part of this region was ambiguous in previous crystal structures but could be built within the cryo-EM map. These findings and this protocol could serve the growing cryo-EM community in characterizing and pushing the limits of their electron microscopes and workflows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abril Gijsbers
- Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Yue Zhang
- Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ye Gao
- Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J. Peters
- Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Raimond B. G. Ravelli
- Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yu H, Hamaguchi T, Nakajima Y, Kato K, Kawakami K, Akita F, Yonekura K, Shen JR. Cryo-EM structure of monomeric photosystem II at 2.78 Å resolution reveals factors important for the formation of dimer. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2021; 1862:148471. [PMID: 34216574 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2021.148471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Photosystem II (PSII) functions mainly as a dimer to catalyze the light energy conversion and water oxidation reactions. However, monomeric PSII also exists and functions in vivo in some cases. The crystal structure of monomeric PSII has been solved at 3.6 Å resolution, but it is still not clear which factors contribute to the formation of the dimer. Here, we solved the structure of PSII monomer at a resolution of 2.78 Å using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). From our cryo-EM density map, we observed apparent differences in pigments and lipids in the monomer-monomer interface between the PSII monomer and dimer. One β-carotene and two sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) molecules are found in the monomer-monomer interface of the dimer structure but not in the present monomer structure, although some SQDG and other lipid molecules are found in the analogous region of the low-resolution crystal structure of the monomer, or cryo-EM structure of an apo-PSII monomer lacking the extrinsic proteins from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. In the current monomer structure, a large part of the PsbO subunit was also found to be disordered. These results indicate the importance of the β-carotene, SQDG and PsbO in formation of the PSII dimer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huaxin Yu
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Department of Picobiology, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan
| | - Tasuku Hamaguchi
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Nakajima
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Koji Kato
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kawakami
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Fusamichi Akita
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan; Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan; Advanced Electron Microscope Development Unit, RIKEN-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN Baton Zone Program, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
| | - Jian-Ren Shen
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Efremov RG, Stroobants A. Coma-corrected rapid single-particle cryo-EM data collection on the CRYO ARM 300. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:555-564. [PMID: 33950012 PMCID: PMC8098478 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321002151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy has recently become a major method for determining the structures of proteins and protein complexes. This has markedly increased the demand for throughput of high-resolution electron microscopes, which are required to produce high-resolution images at high rates. An increase in data-collection throughput can be achieved by using large beam-image shifts combined with off-axis coma correction, enabling the acquisition of multiple images from a large area of the EM grid without moving the microscope stage. Here, the optical properties of the JEOL CRYO ARM 300 electron microscope equipped with a K3 camera were characterized under off-axis illumination conditions. It is shown that efficient coma correction can be achieved for beam-image shifts with an amplitude of at least 10 µm, enabling a routine throughput for data collection of between 6000 and 9000 images per day. Use of the benchmark for the rapid data-collection procedure (with beam-image shifts of up to 7 µm) on apoferritin resulted in a reconstruction at a resolution of 1.7 Å. This demonstrates that the rapid automated acquisition of high-resolution micrographs is possible using a CRYO ARM 300.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rouslan G. Efremov
- Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annelore Stroobants
- Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hamaguchi T, Kawakami K, Shinzawa-Itoh K, Inoue-Kashino N, Itoh S, Ifuku K, Yamashita E, Maeda K, Yonekura K, Kashino Y. Structure of the far-red light utilizing photosystem I of Acaryochloris marina. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2333. [PMID: 33879791 PMCID: PMC8058080 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22502-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Acaryochloris marina is one of the cyanobacterial species that can use far-red light to drive photochemical reactions for oxygenic photosynthesis. Here, we report the structure of A. marina photosystem I (PSI) reaction center, determined by cryo-electron microscopy at 2.58 Å resolution. The structure reveals an arrangement of electron carriers and light-harvesting pigments distinct from other type I reaction centers. The paired chlorophyll, or special pair (also referred to as P740 in this case), is a dimer of chlorophyll d and its epimer chlorophyll d'. The primary electron acceptor is pheophytin a, a metal-less chlorin. We show the architecture of this PSI reaction center is composed of 11 subunits and we identify key components that help explain how the low energy yield from far-red light is efficiently utilized for driving oxygenic photosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tasuku Hamaguchi
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kawakami
- Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (ReCAP), Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan.
| | | | | | - Shigeru Itoh
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ifuku
- Division of Integrated Life Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Eiki Yamashita
- Laboratory of Supramolecular Crystallography, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kou Maeda
- Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, Ako-gun, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan.
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Yasuhiro Kashino
- Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, Ako-gun, Hyogo, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Below 3 Å structure of apoferritin using a multipurpose TEM with a side entry cryoholder. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8395. [PMID: 33863933 PMCID: PMC8052451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87183-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the structural analysis of protein complexes by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) single particle analysis (SPA) has had great impact as a biophysical method. Many results of cryo-EM SPA are based on data acquired on state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopes customized for SPA. These are currently only available in limited locations around the world, where securing machine time is highly competitive. One potential solution for this time-competitive situation is to reuse existing multi-purpose equipment, although this comes with performance limitations. Here, a multi-purpose TEM with a side entry cryo-holder was used to evaluate the potential of high-resolution SPA, resulting in a 3 Å resolution map of apoferritin with local resolution extending to 2.6 Å. This map clearly showed two positions of an aromatic side chain. Further, examination of optimal imaging conditions depending on two different multi-purpose electron microscope and camera combinations was carried out, demonstrating that higher magnifications are not always necessary or desirable. Since automation is effectively a requirement for large-scale data collection, and augmenting the multi-purpose equipment is possible, we expanded testing by acquiring data with SerialEM using a β-galactosidase test sample. This study demonstrates the possibilities of more widely available and established electron microscopes, and their applications for cryo-EM SPA.
Collapse
|
20
|
Maki-Yonekura S, Hamaguchi T, Naitow H, Takaba K, Yonekura K. Advances in cryo-EM and ED with a cold-field emission beam and energy filtration -Refinements of the CRYO ARM 300 system in RIKEN SPring-8 center. Microscopy (Oxf) 2021; 70:232-240. [PMID: 33245780 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfaa052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We have designed and evaluated a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) system for higher-resolution single particle analysis and high-precision electron 3D crystallography. The system comprises a JEOL CRYO ARM 300 electron microscope-the first machine of this model-and a direct detection device camera, a scintillator-coupled camera, GPU clusters connected with a camera control computer and software for automated-data collection and efficient and accurate operation. The microscope provides parallel illumination of a highly coherent 300-kV electron beam to a sample from a cold-field emission gun and filters out energy-loss electrons through the sample with an in-column energy filter. The gun and filter are highly effective in improving imaging and diffraction, respectively, and have provided high quality data since July 2018. We here report on the characteristics of the cryo-EM system, updates, our progress and future plan for running such cryo-EM machines in RIKEN SPring-8 Center.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saori Maki-Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Tasuku Hamaguchi
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Hisashi Naitow
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Takaba
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan.,Advanced Electron Microscope Development Unit, RIKEN-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN Baton Zone Program, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kato K, Miyazaki N, Hamaguchi T, Nakajima Y, Akita F, Yonekura K, Shen JR. High-resolution cryo-EM structure of photosystem II reveals damage from high-dose electron beams. Commun Biol 2021; 4:382. [PMID: 33753866 PMCID: PMC7985191 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01919-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Photosystem II (PSII) plays a key role in water-splitting and oxygen evolution. X-ray crystallography has revealed its atomic structure and some intermediate structures. However, these structures are in the crystalline state and its final state structure has not been solved. Here we analyzed the structure of PSII in solution at 1.95 Å resolution by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The structure obtained is similar to the crystal structure, but a PsbY subunit was visible in the cryo-EM structure, indicating that it represents its physiological state more closely. Electron beam damage was observed at a high-dose in the regions that were easily affected by redox states, and reducing the beam dosage by reducing frames from 50 to 2 yielded a similar resolution but reduced the damage remarkably. This study will serve as a good indicator for determining damage-free cryo-EM structures of not only PSII but also all biological samples, especially redox-active metalloproteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koji Kato
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Miyazaki
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tasuku Hamaguchi
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN Spring-8 Center, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Nakajima
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Fusamichi Akita
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN Spring-8 Center, Hyogo, Japan.
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Jian-Ren Shen
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
|
23
|
Abstract
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become the technique of choice for structural biology of macromolecular assemblies, after the 'resolution revolution' that has occurred in this field since 2012. With a suitable instrument, an appropriate electron detector and, last but not least, a cooperative sample it is now possible to collect images from which macromolecular structures can be determined to better than 2 Å resolution, where reliable atomic models can be built. By electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging of cryo-samples, it is also possible to reconstruct subcellular structures to sub-nanometre resolution. This review describes the infrastructure that is needed to achieve this goal. Ideally, a cryo-EM lab will have a dedicated 300 kV electron microscope for data recording and a 200 kV instrument for screening cryo-samples, both with direct electron detectors, and at least one 120 kV EM for negative-stain screening at room temperature. Added to this should be ancillary equipment for specimen preparation, including a light microscope, carbon coater, plasma cleaner, glow discharge unit, a device for fast, robotic sample freezing, liquid nitrogen storage Dewars and a ready supply of clean liquid nitrogen. In practice, of course, the available budget will determine the number and types of microscopes and how elaborate the lab can be. The cryo-EM lab should be designed with adequate space for the electron microscopes and ancillary equipment, and should allow for sufficient storage space. Each electron microscope room should be connected to the image-processing computers by fibre-optic cables for the rapid transfer of large datasets. The cryo-EM lab should be overseen by a facility manager whose responsibilities include the day-to-day tasks to ensure that all microscopes are operating perfectly, organising service and repairs to minimise downtime, and controlling the budget. Large facilities will require additional support staff who help to oversee the operation of the facility and instruct new users.
Collapse
|
24
|
Takaba K, Maki-Yonekura S, Inoue S, Hasegawa T, Yonekura K. Protein and Organic-Molecular Crystallography With 300kV Electrons on a Direct Electron Detector. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 7:612226. [PMID: 33469549 PMCID: PMC7814344 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.612226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron 3D crystallography can reveal the atomic structure from undersized crystals of various samples owing to the strong scattering power of electrons. Here, a direct electron detector DE64 was tested for small and thin crystals of protein and an organic molecule using a JEOL CRYO ARM 300 electron microscope. The microscope is equipped with a cold-field emission gun operated at an accelerating voltage of 300 kV, quad condenser lenses for parallel illumination, an in-column energy filter, and a stable rotational goniometer stage. Rotational diffraction data were collected in an unsupervised manner from crystals of a heme-binding enzyme catalase and a representative organic semiconductor material Ph-BTBT-C10. The structures were determined by molecular replacement for catalase and by the direct method for Ph-BTBT-C10. The analyses demonstrate that the system works well for electron 3D crystallography of these molecules with less damaging, a smaller point spread, and less noise than using the conventional scintillator-coupled camera.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiyofumi Takaba
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Japan
| | | | - Satoru Inoue
- Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Hasegawa
- Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Japan.,Advanced Electron Microscope Development Unit, RIKEN-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN Baton Zone Program, Sayo, Japan.,Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
OUP accepted manuscript. Microscopy (Oxf) 2021; 71:i3-i14. [DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
26
|
Umrekar TR, Cohen E, Drobnič T, Gonzalez-Rodriguez N, Beeby M. CryoEM of bacterial secretion systems: A primer for microbiologists. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:366-382. [PMID: 33140482 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
"CryoEM" has come of age, enabling considerable structural insights into many facets of molecular biology. Here, we present a primer for microbiologists to understand the capabilities and limitations of two complementary cryoEM techniques for studying bacterial secretion systems. The first, single particle analysis, determines the structures of purified protein complexes to resolutions sufficient for molecular modeling, while the second, electron cryotomography and subtomogram averaging, tends to determine more modest resolution structures of protein complexes in intact cells. We illustrate these abilities with examples of insights provided into how secretion systems work by cryoEM, with a focus on type III secretion systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eli Cohen
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tina Drobnič
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Morgan Beeby
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Naydenova K, Jia P, Russo CJ. Cryo-EM with sub-1 Å specimen movement. Science 2020; 370:223-226. [PMID: 33033219 DOI: 10.1126/science.abb7927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Most information loss in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) stems from particle movement during imaging, which remains poorly understood. We show that this movement is caused by buckling and subsequent deformation of the suspended ice, with a threshold that depends directly on the shape of the frozen water layer set by the support foil. We describe a specimen support design that eliminates buckling and reduces electron beam-induced particle movement to less than 1 angstrom. The design allows precise foil tracking during imaging with high-speed detectors, thereby lessening demands on cryostage precision and stability. It includes a maximal density of holes, which increases throughput in automated cryo-EM without degrading data quality. Movement-free imaging allows extrapolation to a three-dimensional map of the specimen at zero electron exposure, before the onset of radiation damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Peipei Jia
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Nakane T, Kotecha A, Sente A, McMullan G, Masiulis S, Brown PMGE, Grigoras IT, Malinauskaite L, Malinauskas T, Miehling J, Uchański T, Yu L, Karia D, Pechnikova EV, de Jong E, Keizer J, Bischoff M, McCormack J, Tiemeijer P, Hardwick SW, Chirgadze DY, Murshudov G, Aricescu AR, Scheres SHW. Single-particle cryo-EM at atomic resolution. Nature 2020; 587:152-156. [PMID: 33087931 PMCID: PMC7611073 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2829-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 461] [Impact Index Per Article: 115.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The three-dimensional positions of atoms in protein molecules define their structure and their roles in biological processes. The more precisely atomic coordinates are determined, the more chemical information can be derived and the more mechanistic insights into protein function may be inferred. Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) single-particle analysis has yielded protein structures with increasing levels of detail in recent years1,2. However, it has proved difficult to obtain cryo-EM reconstructions with sufficient resolution to visualize individual atoms in proteins. Here we use a new electron source, energy filter and camera to obtain a 1.7 Å resolution cryo-EM reconstruction for a human membrane protein, the β3 GABAA receptor homopentamer3. Such maps allow a detailed understanding of small-molecule coordination, visualization of solvent molecules and alternative conformations for multiple amino acids, and unambiguous building of ordered acidic side chains and glycans. Applied to mouse apoferritin, our strategy led to a 1.22 Å resolution reconstruction that offers a genuine atomic-resolution view of a protein molecule using single-particle cryo-EM. Moreover, the scattering potential from many hydrogen atoms can be visualized in difference maps, allowing a direct analysis of hydrogen-bonding networks. Our technological advances, combined with further approaches to accelerate data acquisition and improve sample quality, provide a route towards routine application of cryo-EM in high-throughput screening of small molecule modulators and structure-based drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Abhay Kotecha
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Simonas Masiulis
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ioana T Grigoras
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Tomas Malinauskas
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Tomasz Uchański
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lingbo Yu
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Dimple Karia
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Evgeniya V Pechnikova
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin de Jong
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Keizer
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Bischoff
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jamie McCormack
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Tiemeijer
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Atomic-resolution protein structure determination by cryo-EM. Nature 2020; 587:157-161. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2833-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
30
|
Naitow H, Hamaguchi T, Maki-Yonekura S, Isogai M, Yoshikawa N, Yonekura K. Apple latent spherical virus structure with stable capsid frame supports quasi-stable protrusions expediting genome release. Commun Biol 2020; 3:488. [PMID: 32887929 PMCID: PMC7474077 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01217-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Picorna-like plant viruses are non-enveloped RNA spherical viruses of ~30 nm. Part of the survival of these viruses depends on their capsid being stable enough to harbour the viral genome and yet malleable enough to allow its release. However, molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we report a structure of a picorna-like plant virus, apple latent spherical virus, at 2.87 Å resolution by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) with a cold-field emission beam. The cryo-EM map reveals a unique structure composed of three capsid proteins Vp25, Vp20, and Vp24. Strikingly Vp25 has a long N-terminal extension, which substantially stabilises the capsid frame of Vp25 and Vp20 subunits. Cryo-EM images also resolve RNA genome leaking from a pentameric protrusion of Vp24 subunits. The structures and observations suggest that genome release occurs through occasional opening of the Vp24 subunits, possibly suppressed to a low frequency by the rigid frame of the other subunits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Naitow
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Tasuku Hamaguchi
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Saori Maki-Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Masamichi Isogai
- Plant Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Ueda 3-chome 18-8, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8550, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
- Agri-Innovation Center, Iwate University, Ueda 3-chome 18-8, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8550, Japan
| | - Koji Yonekura
- Biostructural Mechanism Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan. .,Advanced Electron Microscope Development Unit, RIKEN-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN Baton Zone Program, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Takaba K, Maki-Yonekura S, Yonekura K. Collecting large datasets of rotational electron diffraction with ParallEM and SerialEM. J Struct Biol 2020; 211:107549. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
32
|
Merk A, Fukumura T, Zhu X, Darling JE, Grisshammer R, Ognjenovic J, Subramaniam S. 1.8 Å resolution structure of β-galactosidase with a 200 kV CRYO ARM electron microscope. IUCRJ 2020; 7:639-643. [PMID: 32695410 PMCID: PMC7340270 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252520006855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We report the determination of the structure of Escherichia coli β-galactosidase at a resolution of ∼1.8 Å using data collected on a 200 kV CRYO ARM microscope equipped with a K3 direct electron detector. The data were collected in a single 24 h session by recording images from an array of 7 × 7 holes at each stage position using the automated data collection program SerialEM. In addition to the expected features such as holes in the densities of aromatic residues, the map also shows density bumps corresponding to the locations of hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen densities are useful in assigning absolute orientations for residues such as glutamine or asparagine by removing the uncertainty in the fitting of the amide groups, and are likely to be especially relevant in the context of structure-guided drug design. These findings validate the use of electron microscopes operating at 200 kV for imaging protein complexes at atomic resolution using cryo-EM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Merk
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | | | - Xing Zhu
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Joseph E. Darling
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Reinhard Grisshammer
- National Cancer Institute Frederick Office of Scientific Operations, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Jana Ognjenovic
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Sriram Subramaniam
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701, USA
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Fislage M, Shkumatov AV, Stroobants A, Efremov RG. Assessing the JEOL CRYO ARM 300 for high-throughput automated single-particle cryo-EM in a multiuser environment. IUCRJ 2020; 7:707-718. [PMID: 32695417 PMCID: PMC7340256 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252520006065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Single-particle cryo-EM has become an indispensable structural biology method. It requires regular access to high-resolution electron cryogenic microscopes. To fully utilize the capacity of the expensive high-resolution instruments, the time used for data acquisition and the rate of data collection have to be maximized. This in turn requires high stability and high uptime of the instrument. One of the first 300 kV JEOL CRYO ARM 300 microscopes has been installed at the cryo-EM facility BECM at VIB-VUB, Brussels, where the microscope is used for continuous data collection on multiple projects. Here, the suitability and performance of the microscope is assessed for high-throughput single-particle data collection. In particular, the properties of the illumination system, the stage stability and ice contamination rates are reported. The microscope was benchmarked using mouse heavy-chain apoferritin which was reconstructed to a resolution of 1.9 Å. Finally, uptime and throughput statistics of the instrument accumulated during the first six months of the facility operation in user access mode are reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Fislage
- Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Alexander V. Shkumatov
- Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Annelore Stroobants
- Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Rouslan G. Efremov
- Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhang Y, Tammaro R, Peters P, Ravelli R. Could Egg White Lysozyme be Solved by Single Particle Cryo-EM? J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:2605-2613. [PMID: 32202786 PMCID: PMC7254834 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b01176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The combination of high-end cryogenic transmission electron microscopes (cryo-EM), direct electron detectors, and advanced image algorithms allows researchers to obtain the 3D structures of much smaller macromolecules than years ago. However, there are still major challenges for the single-particle cryo-EM method to achieve routine structure determinations for macromolecules much smaller than 100 kDa, which are the majority of all plant and animal proteins. These challenges include sample characteristics such as sample heterogeneity, beam damage, ice layer thickness, stability, and quality, as well as hardware limitations such as detector performance, beam, and phase plate quality. Here, single particle data sets were simulated for samples that were ideal in terms of homogeneity, distribution, and stability, but with realistic parameters for ice layer, dose, detector performance, and beam characteristics. Reference data were calculated for human apo-ferritin using identical parameters reported for an experimental data set downloaded from EMPIAR. Processing of the simulated data set resulted in a value of 1.86 Å from 20 214 particles, similar to a 2 Å density map obtained from 29 224 particles selected from real micrographs. Simulated data sets were then generated for a 14 kDa protein, hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL), with and without an ideal phase plate (PP). Whereas we could not obtain a high-resolution 3D reconstruction of HEWL for the data set without PP, the one with PP resulted in a 2.78 Å resolution density map from 225 751 particles. Our simulator and simulations could help in pushing the size limits of cryo-EM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y. Zhang
- The Maastricht Multimodal
Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, 6229ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - R. Tammaro
- The Maastricht Multimodal
Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, 6229ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - P.J. Peters
- The Maastricht Multimodal
Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, 6229ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - R.B.G. Ravelli
- The Maastricht Multimodal
Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Nanoscopy, Maastricht University, 6229ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Hamdi F, Tüting C, Semchonok DA, Visscher KM, Kyrilis FL, Meister A, Skalidis I, Schmidt L, Parthier C, Stubbs MT, Kastritis PL. 2.7 Å cryo-EM structure of vitrified M. musculus H-chain apoferritin from a compact 200 keV cryo-microscope. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232540. [PMID: 32374767 PMCID: PMC7202636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we present the structure of mouse H-chain apoferritin at 2.7 Å (FSC = 0.143) solved by single particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) using a 200 kV device, the Thermo Fisher Glacios®. This is a compact, two-lens illumination system with a constant power objective lens, without any energy filters or aberration correctors, often thought of as a "screening cryo-microscope". Coulomb potential maps reveal clear densities for main chain carbonyl oxygens, residue side chains (including alternative conformations) and bound solvent molecules. We used a quasi-crystallographic reciprocal space approach to fit model coordinates to the experimental cryo-EM map. We argue that the advantages offered by (a) the high electronic and mechanical stability of the microscope, (b) the high emission stability and low beam energy spread of the high brightness Field Emission Gun (X-FEG), (c) direct electron detection technology and (d) particle-based Contrast Transfer Function (CTF) refinement have contributed to achieving high resolution. Overall, we show that basic electron optical settings for automated cryo-electron microscopy imaging can be used to determine structures approaching atomic resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Hamdi
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Christian Tüting
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Dmitry A. Semchonok
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Koen M. Visscher
- AIMMS Division of Molecular Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fotis L. Kyrilis
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Annette Meister
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Ioannis Skalidis
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Lisa Schmidt
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Christoph Parthier
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Milton T. Stubbs
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Panagiotis L. Kastritis
- ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
- ZIK HALOmem, Biozentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Danev R, Iijima H, Matsuzaki M, Motoki S. Fast and accurate defocus modulation for improved tunability of cryo-EM experiments. IUCRJ 2020; 7:566-574. [PMID: 32431839 PMCID: PMC7201282 DOI: 10.1107/s205225252000408x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Current data collection strategies in electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) record multiframe movies with static optical settings. This limits the number of adjustable parameters that can be used to optimize the experiment. Here, a method for fast and accurate defocus (FADE) modulation during movie acquisition is proposed. It uses the objective lens aperture as an electrostatic pole that locally modifies the electron beam potential. The beam potential variation is converted to defocus change by the typically undesired chromatic aberration of the objective lens. The simplicity, electrostatic principle and low electrical impedance of the device allow fast switching speeds that will enable per-frame defocus modulation of cryo-EM movies. Researchers will be able to define custom defocus 'recipes' and tailor the experiment for optimal information extraction from the sample. The FADE method could help to convert the microscope into a more dynamic and flexible optical platform that delivers better performance in cryo-EM single-particle analysis and electron cryo-tomography.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Radostin Danev
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Iijima
- JEOL Ltd, 1-2 Musashino 3-Chome, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8558, Japan
| | - Mizuki Matsuzaki
- JEOL Ltd, 1-2 Musashino 3-Chome, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8558, Japan
| | - Sohei Motoki
- JEOL Ltd, 1-2 Musashino 3-Chome, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8558, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
He B, Zhang Y, Liu X, Chen L. In‐situ Transmission Electron Microscope Techniques for Heterogeneous Catalysis. ChemCatChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201902285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bowen He
- In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringShanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 P.R. China
| | - Yixiao Zhang
- In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringShanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 P.R. China
| | - Xi Liu
- In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringShanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 P.R. China
- SynCat@BeijingSynfuels China Technology Co.Ltd Beijing 101407 P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion Institute of Coal ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences Taiyuan 030001 P.R. China
| | - Liwei Chen
- In-situ Center for Physical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringShanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 P.R. China
- i-Lab, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO)Chinese Academy of Sciences Suzhou 215123 P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Wu M, Lander GC, Herzik MA. Sub-2 Angstrom resolution structure determination using single-particle cryo-EM at 200 keV. J Struct Biol X 2020; 4:100020. [PMID: 32647824 PMCID: PMC7337053 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2020.100020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the advent of direct electron detectors (DEDs) and software developments have enabled the routine use of single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for structure determination of well-behaved specimens to high-resolution, there nonetheless remains a discrepancy between the resolutions attained for biological specimens and the information limits of modern transmission electron microscopes (TEMs). Instruments operating at 300 kV equipped with DEDs are the current paradigm for high-resolution single-particle cryo-EM, while 200 kV TEMs remain comparatively underutilized for purposes beyond sample screening. Here, we expand upon our prior work and demonstrate that one such 200 kV microscope, the Talos Arctica, equipped with a K2 DED is capable of determining structures of macromolecules to as high as ∼1.7 Å resolution. At this resolution, ordered water molecules are readily assigned and holes in aromatic residues can be clearly distinguished in the reconstructions. This work emphasizes the utility of 200 kV electrons for high-resolution single-particle cryo-EM and applications such as structure-based drug design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Wu
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Gabriel C. Lander
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Mark A. Herzik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Tidy up cryo-EM sample grids with 3D printed tools. J Struct Biol 2020; 209:107414. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.107414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|