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Title: Exploring cryo-electron microscopy with molecular dynamics

Journal Article · · Biochemical Society Transactions
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1042/bst20210485· OSTI ID:1978924
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [4]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
  2. Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
  3. Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
  4. MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Single particle analysis cryo-electron microscopy (EM) and molecular dynamics (MD) have been complimentary methods since cryo-EM was first applied to the field of structural biology. The relationship started by biasing structural models to fit low-resolution cryo-EM maps of large macromolecular complexes not amenable to crystallization. The connection between cryo-EM and MD evolved as cryo-EM maps improved in resolution, allowing advanced sampling algorithms to simultaneously refine backbone and sidechains. Moving beyond a single static snapshot, modern inferencing approaches integrate cryo-EM and MD to generate structural ensembles from cryo-EM map data or directly from the particle images themselves. We summarize the recent history of MD innovations in the area of cryo-EM modeling. The merits for the myriad of MD based cryo-EM modeling methods are discussed, as well as, the discoveries that were made possible by the integration of molecular modeling with cryo-EM. Lastly, current challenges and potential opportunities are reviewed.

Research Organization:
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-91ER20021
OSTI ID:
1978924
Journal Information:
Biochemical Society Transactions, Vol. 50, Issue 1; ISSN 0300-5127
Publisher:
Portland Press
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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