Current data processing strategies for cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) can be used to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) volumes, or tomograms, from a series of tilted two-dimensional images biological objects in their near-native states situ vitro. 3D subvolumes, subtomograms, containing particles interest extracted aligned, and averaged process called subtomogram averaging (STA). STA overcomes the low signal noise ratio within individual subtomograms generate structures particle(s) interest. In recent years, cryo-ET with has increasingly been capable reaching subnanometer resolution due improvements microscope hardware data processing strategies. There also an increase number quality software packages available STA. this review, we describe assess strategies for highlight developments which have enabled extraction high-resolution information datasets.