Tools enabling flexible approaches to high-resolution subtomogram averaging

Abstract

Cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging are increasingly used for macromolecular structure determination in situ. Here we introduce a set of computational tools and resources designed to enable flexible approaches to subtomogram averaging. In particular, our tools simplify metadata handling, increase automation, and interface the Dynamo software package with the Warp-Relion-M pipeline. We provide a framework for ab initio and geometrical approaches to subtomogram averaging combining tools from these packages. We illustrate the power of working within the framework enabled by our developments by applying it to EMPIAR-10164, a publicly available dataset containing immature HIV-1 virus-like particles, and a challenging in situ dataset containing chemosensory arrays in bacterial minicells. Additionally, we establish an open and collaborative online platform for sharing knowledge and tools related to cryo-electron tomography data processing. To this platform, we contribute a comprehensive guide to obtaining state-of-the-art results from EMPIAR-10164.