http://www.physorg.com/news74182827.html
"..Biologists at the California Institute of Technology have now succeeded for the first time in obtaining a three-dimensional image of the complete flagellum assembly using a new technology called electron cryotomography. Reporting in Nature, the scientists show in unprecedented detail both the rotor of the flagellum and the stator, or protein assembly that not only attaches the rotor to the cell wall, but also generates the torque that serves to rotate it.."
The above news report is based on "In situ structure of the complete Treponema primitia flagellar motor"
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/...ature05015.html
Full Text:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/...ature05015.html
No subscription is necessary at the moment because its an "advance publication". (NB The PhysOrg report does give a link to the full text but it has a typo in it - my usual trick!)
John Latter / Jorolat
Evolution Research
http://evomech.blogspot.com/
Wow, thanks incredible!
The implications for this discovery are vast but also many uses for electron cryotomography (cryoET) could prove ground breaking at the molecular resolutions, while I am aware, more technical and computational based improvements are still needed.
In particular the contrast in cryoET, in the determination and correction of the contrast transfer function (CTF).
It was developed and in use prior to 2002, to visualize 3D macromolecular complexes inside cellular compartments in their natural environment, by vitrification.
At resolutions of 5-8 nm but further improvement prospects are good.
Since "many" intracellular activities are conducted by complexes in the megadalton range, with dimensions of 20-50 nm, current resolutions CAN suffice to identify many of them in tomograms.
However, the residual noise and the dense packing of cellular constituents hamper interpretation.
This is the same technique used to unveil the structures of nearly every HIV-1 protein, which were known in atomic detail from X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, BUT it was unclear how the individual proteins are arranged in the mature infectious viral particle.
But the individual HIV-1 virus-like particles (VLPs) structures were unveiled soon, and of much benefit.
I wonder on this findings implications and further effect on evolution/creation debate, by time and further research.
I'll be reading it throughly, later when time becomes available.
Thanks.
The implications for this discovery are vast but also many uses for electron cryotomography (cryoET) could prove ground breaking at the molecular resolutions, while I am aware, more technical and computational based improvements are still needed.
In particular the contrast in cryoET, in the determination and correction of the contrast transfer function (CTF).
It was developed and in use prior to 2002, to visualize 3D macromolecular complexes inside cellular compartments in their natural environment, by vitrification.
At resolutions of 5-8 nm but further improvement prospects are good.
Since "many" intracellular activities are conducted by complexes in the megadalton range, with dimensions of 20-50 nm, current resolutions CAN suffice to identify many of them in tomograms.
However, the residual noise and the dense packing of cellular constituents hamper interpretation.
This is the same technique used to unveil the structures of nearly every HIV-1 protein, which were known in atomic detail from X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, BUT it was unclear how the individual proteins are arranged in the mature infectious viral particle.
But the individual HIV-1 virus-like particles (VLPs) structures were unveiled soon, and of much benefit.
I wonder on this findings implications and further effect on evolution/creation debate, by time and further research.
I'll be reading it throughly, later when time becomes available.
Thanks.
The S&M fraternity will be interested in this 
Whip it good!
Whip it good!
QUOTE (bang4thebuck+Aug 8 2006, 09:36 PM)
Wow, thanks incredible!
I'm glad you like it!
It certainly is amazing stuff but the paper is too technical for me to offer any useful comments - though I will be looking at it again further down the line (and I also have a peripheral interest in any 'intelligent design v evolution' developments).
The following link (if you're interested) provides links to a press release entitled "Secrets of a Cellular Machine: New Clues to the Architecture of Flagella and Cilia" and the paper it is based upon "Molecular architecture of axonemal microtubule doublets revealed by cryo-electron tomography,":
http://evomech1.blogspot.com/2006/07/secre...ar-machine.html
John Latter / Jorolat
Evolution Research
http://evomech.blogspot.com/
I'm glad you like it!
It certainly is amazing stuff but the paper is too technical for me to offer any useful comments - though I will be looking at it again further down the line (and I also have a peripheral interest in any 'intelligent design v evolution' developments).
The following link (if you're interested) provides links to a press release entitled "Secrets of a Cellular Machine: New Clues to the Architecture of Flagella and Cilia" and the paper it is based upon "Molecular architecture of axonemal microtubule doublets revealed by cryo-electron tomography,":
http://evomech1.blogspot.com/2006/07/secre...ar-machine.html
John Latter / Jorolat
Evolution Research
http://evomech.blogspot.com/
Jorolat,
Thanks again, I'll take a look at further disposal of time, but cannot yet due to myself being involved in this Middle Eastern mayhem in a few ways.
Thanks again, I'll take a look at further disposal of time, but cannot yet due to myself being involved in this Middle Eastern mayhem in a few ways.
QUOTE (bang4thebuck+Aug 9 2006, 10:44 PM)
Jorolat,
Thanks again, I'll take a look at further disposal of time, but cannot yet due to myself being involved in this Middle Eastern mayhem in a few ways.
Thanks again, I'll take a look at further disposal of time, but cannot yet due to myself being involved in this Middle Eastern mayhem in a few ways.
QUOTE (bang4thebuck+Aug 9 2006, 10:44 PM)
Jorolat,
Thanks again, I'll take a look at further disposal of time, but cannot yet due to myself being involved in this Middle Eastern mayhem in a few ways.
Developing nerve gases or other WMDs?
Thanks again, I'll take a look at further disposal of time, but cannot yet due to myself being involved in this Middle Eastern mayhem in a few ways.
Developing nerve gases or other WMDs?
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