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On the state of crystallography at the dawn of the electron microscopy revolution.

ABSTRACT: While protein crystallography has, for many years, been the most used method for structural analysis of macromolecular complexes, remarkable recent advances in high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy led to suggestions that 'the revolution will not be crystallised'. Here we highlight the current success rate, speed and ease of modern crystallographic structure determination and some recent triumphs of both 'classical' crystallography and the use of X-ray free electron lasers. We also outline fundamental differences between structure determination using X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. We suggest that crystallography will continue to co-exist with electron microscopy as part of an integrated array of methods, allowing structural biologists to focus on fundamental biological questions rather than being constrained by the methods available.

SUBMITTER: Higgins MK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5689515 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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On the state of crystallography at the dawn of the electron microscopy revolution.

Higgins Matthew K MK Lea Susan M SM

Current opinion in structural biology 20170704

While protein crystallography has, for many years, been the most used method for structural analysis of macromolecular complexes, remarkable recent advances in high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy led to suggestions that 'the revolution will not be crystallised'. Here we highlight the current success rate, speed and ease of modern crystallographic structure determination and some recent triumphs of both 'classical' crystallography and the use of X-ray free electron lasers. We also outline fu ...[more]

PMID: 28686957

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