Cryogenic electron tomography by the numbers: Charting underexplored lineages in structural cell biology.

ABSTRACT: Imaging cells and their interactions across the whole biosphere with molecular-scale resolution is key for understanding structure-function relations. Cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET) is a powerful method for obtaining this critical information. However, cryo-ET studies are challenging and often limited to a small number of cell types per study. Here, we collate cryo-ET data from hundreds of cells and tissues across the biosphere to i) identify emerging methodological trends, ii) pinpoint strategies to reduce imaging time and costs, iii) quantitatively compare methods for cell freezing and sectioning, and iv) census cryo-ET species coverage across all domains of life. Comparing the fraction of cellular material within a single lamella across all domains of life reveals an order of m

SUBMITTER: Ansell TB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12933124 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature