Abstract
BackgroundRecent innovations in the field of electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) have achieved structure determination of target macromolecules at “near-atomic resolution”. In addition, cryo-EM has the potential to deal with proteins in multiple conformations in close to physiological conditions. Scope of reviewThis is an overview of the latest technical and methodological developments in cryo-EM, especially key features for elucidating the dynamic nature of specimens. Major conclusionsIt is now possible to elucidate “near-atomic resolution” structures by selecting “well-behaved” particles in Single Particle Analysis (SPA) of cryo-EM images. General significanceCurrently, cryo-EM is utilized actively as an alternative to X-ray crystallography to obtain high-resolution structures of macromolecules, especially those which are hard to crystalize. One possible reason for difficulty in crystallization could be the dynamic nature of the specimen. New developments in the field of cryo-EM will make it possible to deal with specimen heterogeneity and reveal the dynamic nature of specimens.
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