Single particle cryoelectron tomography characterization of the structure and structural variability of poliovirus-receptor-membrane complex at 30 A resolution.

Journal article

As a long-term goal we want to use cryoelectron tomography to understand how non-enveloped viruses, such as picornaviruses, enter cells and translocate their genomes across membranes. To this end, we developed new image-processing tools using an in vitro system to model viral interactions with membranes. The complex of poliovirus with its membrane-bound receptors was reconstructed by averaging multiple sub-tomograms, thereby producing three-dimensional maps of surprisingly high-resolution (30 A). Recognizable images of the complex could be produced by averaging as few as 20 copies. Additionally, model-free reconstructions of free poliovirus particles, clearly showing the major surface features, could be calculated from 60 virions. All calculations were designed to avoid artifacts caused by missing information typical for tomographic data ("missing wedge"). To investigate structural and conformational variability we applied a principal component analysis classification to specific regions. We show that the missing wedge causes a bias in classification, and that this bias can be minimized by supplementation with data from the Fourier transform of the averaged structure. After classifying images of the receptor into groups with high similarity, we were able to see differences in receptor density consistent with the known variability in receptor glycosylation.

Authors: Bostina, M; Bubeck, D; Schwartz, C; Nicastro, D; Filman, D

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of structural biology
• Volume: 160
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 200-210
• Publication date: 2007-11-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2007.08.009
• EISSN: 1095-8657
• ISSN: 1047-8477
• Language: English
• Keywords: Cell Membrane; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Receptors, Virus; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Tomography; Fourier Analysis; Molecular Conformation; Artifacts; Biophysics; Liposomes; Virion; Poliovirus; Microscopy, Electron; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Membrane Proteins