Integrative Approaches Based on Cryo-EM and Cryo-ET in Biological Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The unprecedented growth of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) in recent years has promoted this method as one of the most powerful in structural and cell biology. Single-particle analysis of purified macromolecular complexes allows us to elucidate their structure at near-atomic resolution. Their visualization and study in the cellular context at an unprecedented resolution have become possible by cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). However, there are still pitfalls related to the resolutions available for a number of biological objects. These limitations can be overcome by using an integrative approach combining cryo-EM and cryo-ET data with complementary biochemical and structural techniques, such as copurification of macromolecular complexes, NMR, X-ray crystallography, SAXS, cross-linking and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, light scattering, molecular modeling as well as mutagenesis and functional assays. The information at different resolutions then completes the interpretation of cryo-EM/cryo-ET data and allows the identification of different components, the determination of their conformation(s), and molecular interactions at atomic or molecular levels. This allows the understanding of biological processes at the highest spatial and temporal resolution possible. In this Special Issue, we will report integrative studies with mechanistic and functional insights, as well as new methods for significant advances in the field.

Dr. Hélène Démèné
Dr. Nadia Izadi-Pruneyre
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.