2025Sun PlasmaMembranes

Citation

W. W. Sun et al., “Cryo-electron tomography pipeline for plasma membranes,” Nature Communications, vol. 16, no. 1, p. 855, 2025.

Abstract

Cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) provides sub-nanometer protein structure within the dense cellular environment. Existing sample preparation methods are insufficient at accessing the plasma membrane and its associated proteins. Here, we present a correlative cryo-electron tomography pipeline optimally suited to image large ultra-thin areas of isolated basal and apical plasma membranes. The pipeline allows for angstrom-scale structure determination with subtomogram averaging and employs a genetically encodable rapid chemically-induced electron microscopy visible tag for marking specific proteins within the complex cellular environment. The pipeline provides efficient, distributable, low-cost sample preparation and enables targeted structural studies of identified proteins at the plasma membrane of mammalian cells.

Links

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56045-z