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Our choice for Method of the Year 2015 is single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. A collection of articles discusses how recent technical advances, especially the development of direct-detection cameras, have enabled this structural biology technique to make impressive leaps in achievable resolution and, in turn, provide new insights about protein function. We also highlight methods to watch in the upcoming years.
Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy are enabling researchers to solve protein structures at near-atomic resolutions, expanding the biological applicability of this technique. Michael Eisenstein reports.
Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged over the last two decades as a technique capable of studying the structure of challenging systems. The author of this Commentary discusses some of the major historical landmarks in cryo-EM that have led to its present success.
Cryo-EM has emerged rapidly as a method for determining high-resolution structures of biological macromolecules. The author of this Commentary discusses just how much better this technology may get and how fast such developments are likely to happen.