Segmentation of cell components using prior knowledge

Abstract

Electron tomography is a method for determining 3D structure by electron microscopy, using multiple tilt views of the specimen (Lucic et al., 2005; McEwen and Marko 2001; McIntosh et al., 2005). Since electron tomography does not employ averaging or require the presence of symmetry, it can be used in biological applications to image single copies of subcellular components in situ. When specimen preparation is optimized by use of rapid freezing, and imaged either directly in the frozen-hydrated state, or after freeze substitution and plastic embedding, electron tomography provides a relatively high-resolution view of biological structure in a native, or near-native, cellular context.