Exploring molecular landscapes inside cells with in situ cryo-electron tomography

We are leveraging new advances in cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to investigate macromolecular complexes within the native cellular environment. Thin slices of vitrified Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells are prepared by cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling and then imaged by state-of-the-art cryo-ET. The resulting 3D views of cellular volumes have provided new insights into the molecular organization of organelles. In this talk, I will provide an overview of some of our recent studies, touching on proteasome-rich degradation centers, the nuclear pore complex, Golgi COPI coats, and the molecular organization of the chloroplast’s thylakoid membranes and pyrenoid.