Cryo-ET allows for high-resolution imaging of macromolecular complexes in their native cellular environment, overcoming limitations of traditional methods that rely on purified proteins. The white paper highlights key technological improvements in sample preparation and data processing, such as cryo-FIB milling and subtomogram averaging, which have broadened the scope of cryo-ET applications from single cells to multicellular organisms. The paper also explores the potential future developments in cryo-ET technology and methodology, suggesting that continued innovations could further enhance our understanding of cellular processes at the molecular level.
Image courtesy - Turk, M., & Baumeister, W. (2020). The promise and the challenges of cryo‐electron tomography. FEBS Letters, 594(20), 3243–3261. https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.13948