KENBIKYO Vol.50▶No.2 2015
■Feature Articles: ‌Novel Insights and Perspectives in Microbiology Obtained from Time-Lapse and Spatial Serial Observation of Single Bacterial and Yeast Cells

Structome Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Masahi Yamaguchi

Abstract: The cell structures have been studied only qualitatively and two-dimensionally since 1932 when the electron microscope was invented. “Structome” was defined as “quantitative three-dimensional structural information of whole cells at the electron microscopic level”. This is a fundamental concept equal to genome and proteome. In this paper, first structome analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using rapid freeze-freeze substitution method and serial ultrathin sectioning technique is described and discussed about its features. Also, example is shown that leads to the discovery of an unknown microorganism by performing the structome analysis. Finally, difference between the serial slice SEM methods and our method will be discussed.

Key words: cell structure, rapid freeze-freeze substitution method, serial ultrathin sectioning tecknique, 3D reconstruction