Three-dimensional reconstruction at the molecular level

This article gives a brief overview over the problem of obtaining three-dimensional images of macromolecules that occur in the form of single particles. The method of random-conical data collection and reconstruction, which has been successfully used for a variety of complex macromolecular assemblies such as the ribosome and the calcium release channel, receives particular attention. The roles of classification and restoration is obtaining artifact-free reconstructions, as well as the feasibility of merging different reconstructions are discussed both for negatively stained and ice-embedded macromolecules