From Atoms to Cells: Using Mesoscale Landscapes to Construct Visual Narratives

J Mol Biol. 2018 Oct 19;430(21):3954-3968. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.06.009. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Abstract

Modeling and visualization of the cellular mesoscale, bridging the nanometer scale of molecules to the micrometer scale of cells, is being studied by an integrative approach. Data from structural biology, proteomics, and microscopy are combined to simulate the molecular structure of living cells. These cellular landscapes are used as research tools for hypothesis generation and testing, and to present visual narratives of the cellular context of molecular biology for dissemination, education, and outreach.

Keywords: cellular mesoscale; integrative structural biology; mesoscale modeling; molecular graphics; science education.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Biology
  • Cytological Techniques
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Biology / methods