Three-dimensional reconstruction from electron micrographs of disordered specimens. II. Implementation and results

Abstract

The computational procedures to implement the method described in the companion paper for three-dimensional reconstruction from projections of a disordered collection of single particles are presented. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate the way the method functions, and practical aspects are discussed in detail. Examples are given of how different symmetries can be exploited by imposing selection rules on the model equations. Applications to negatively stained 50S ribosomes and to cryo-electron micrographs of thin vitrified layers of unstained and unsupported tomato bushy stunt and Semliki Forest viruses are described, and the resulting reconstructions are presented.