STRUCTURE

Two-dimensional crystals of VDAC channels in outer mitochondrial membranes of N. crassa.  The left panel is an electron micrograph of freeze-dried and shadowed outer membranes after treatment with phospholipase A2 to induce large crystalline arrays.  The crystalline pattern is visible on the surface of the central flattened vesicle with straight edges.  On the right are the results of computer filtration, everaging and image reconstruction.  The false color indicates elevation (bright yellow being high and dark blue being low).  The two images represent the two surfaces of the crystal.  Each image contains four six-channel repeating units.  The figure is adapted from the work of Thomas et al.  The color images were produced by B.L.  Trus.