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arXiv · 1405.2477

Three-dimensional coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of a whole, frozen-hydrated cell

Jose A. Rodriguez·Rui Xu·Chien-Chun Chen·Zhifeng Huang·Huaidong Jiang·Kevin S. Raines·Daewoong Nam·Allan L. Chen·A. J. Pryor·Lutz Wiegart·Changyong Song·Anders Madsen·Yuriy Chushkin·Federico Zontone·Peter J. Bradley·Jianwei Miao
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Abstract

A structural understanding of whole cells in three dimensions at high spatial resolution remains a significant challenge and, in the case of X-rays, has been limited by radiation damage. By alleviating this limitation, cryogenic coherent diffraction imaging (cryo-CDI) could bridge the important resolution gap between optical and electron microscopy in bio-imaging. Here, we report for the first time 3D cryo-CDI of a whole, frozen-hydrated cell - in this case a Neospora caninum tachyzoite - using 8 keV X-rays. Our 3D reconstruction reveals the surface and internal morphology of the cell, including its complex, polarized sub-cellular architecture with a 3D resolution of ~75-100 nm, which is presently limited by the coherent X-ray flux and detector size. Given the imminent improvement in the coherent X-ray flux at the facilities worldwide, our work forecasts the possibility of routine 3D imaging of frozen-hydrated cells with spatial resolutions in the tens of nanometres.

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Jose A. Rodriguez, Rui Xu, Chien-Chun Chen, Zhifeng Huang, Huaidong Jiang, Kevin S. Raines, Daewoong Nam, Allan L. Chen, A. J. Pryor, Lutz Wiegart, Changyong Song, Anders Madsen, Yuriy Chushkin, Federico Zontone, Peter J. Bradley, Jianwei Miao. 2014-05-10. Three-dimensional coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of a whole, frozen-hydrated cell. https://doi.org/10.1107/s205225251501235x

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