Micron Oxford Advanced Bioimaging Unit website
Podcast 'Structural cell biology of virus infection'
Herpesviruses entering a host cell by membrane fusion (PNAS 105: 10559). |
Structure of SIV env complex in situ (PLoS Pathogens 2: e83). |
Kay Grünewald
Professor of Structural Cell Biology
Cells constitute the smallest autonomous units of life. Supramolecular complexes carry out essentially all functions and processes and form the cells structural elements. The tightly regulated structural and functional organization of a cell at this level is currently only rudimentary understood. A comprehensive analysis of this organization and its dynamic changes requires tools that allow for studying these complexes in their native environment. We apply electron cryo tomography (cryo-ET) in combination with other techniques to approach selected aspects of this highly ordered network analyzing protein complexes in situ. Sample preparation by fast vitrification, i.e. embedding in amorphous ice, ensures excellent preservation of structure down to the atomic level.
We have pioneered the application of cryo-ET to isolated pleomorphic viruses revealing their three-dimensional supramolecular organization. Examples are virions of Herpes simplex virus, HIV-1 and Uukuniemivirus. More recently we have moved towards cell biology of virus infection. Understanding the entirety of a virus’ ‘life cycle’ requires an understanding of its transient structures at the molecular level. The aim is a comprehensive picture of the functional interaction between viral protein complexes and cellular structures in the course of the infection. Viruses also serve as dedicated tools to mine the molecular detail of cellular tomograms. Being able to enter cells via physiological pathways and being recognizable among the multitude of other structural features inside the hosts cytoplasm viruses allow following dynamic cellular processes.
Cryo electron microscopy provides an excellent platform for interactions with other approaches, like biochemical and X-ray crystallographic studies and integration of these results with native sub-cellular structural information. We are involved in various efforts of methods development including the combination of cryo electron tomographic imaging with ‘single particle’ approaches, fluorescence microscopy and X-ray microscopy/tomography in a correlative fashion, proteomics and frozen hydrated sectioning.
Recent publications
-
Cellular electron cryo tomography and in situ sub-volume averaging reveal the context of microtubule-based processes
Journal article
Grange M. et al, (2017), Journal of Structural Biology, 197, 181 - 190
-
Native structure of a retroviral envelope protein and its conformational change upon interaction with the target cell
Journal article
Riedel C. et al, (2017), Journal of Structural Biology, 197, 172 - 180
-
Two distinct trimeric conformations of natively membrane-anchored full-length herpes simplex virus 1 glycoprotein B
Journal article
Zeev-Ben-Mordehai T. et al, (2016), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113, 4176 - 4181
-
Crystal Structure of the Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress Complex Provides Insights into Inner Nuclear Membrane Remodeling
Journal article
Zeev-Ben-Mordehai T. et al, (2015), Cell Reports, 13, 2645 - 2652
-
Structural Basis of Vesicle Formation at the Inner Nuclear Membrane
Journal article
Hagen C. et al, (2015), Cell, 163, 1692 - 1701