2025 Huang
Citation
Huang, M., Ma, J., Fu, X., Wang, H., Shen, Y. and Li, X. 2025. Accurate helical parameter estimation based on cylindrical unrolling. Structure. (2025).
Abstract
Helical structure is fundamental for filamentous and tubular macromolecular assemblies that play crucial roles in structural scaffolding and signaling processes. Structure determination of these assemblies relies on the precise estimation of their helical parameters. Although layer-line-based methods are widely used, their application is often challenging due to structural flexibility and heterogeneity. Herein, we report a method for helical parameter estimation based on cylindrical unrolling, called helix is simple (HELIS), which is implemented in a software package with the same name. HELIS treats helical structures as rolled twodimensional (2D) crystals. Estimation of the helical parameters of structures visualized by cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is derived from simplified 2D reciprocal-lattice measurements. HELIS also incorporates auxiliary algorithms to trace and unbend curved filaments, determine relative polarity, and perform in situ helical reconstruction. HELIS is a comprehensive helical structure determination tool with high accuracy for helical parameter estimation that is applicable to various helical assemblies.
Keywords
Links
https://www.cell.com/structure/fulltext/S0969-2126(25)00224-2