Researchers create first 3D model of entire cell at molecular detail

Structural and computational biologists at Scripps Research teamed up with talented molecular artists to produce the very first 3-D model of an entire cell. The novel visualization of the bacterial cell Mycoplasma genitalium includes a detailed snapshot of its internal constituents and represents a new way to visualize cellular environments in health and medicine. The process was detailed in a recent paper in the Journal of Molecular Biology. The model shows the outer cell membrane (grey/green), consisting of a layer of lipids and proteins that protect the interior of the cell from its external environment. Inside of the membrane depicts all the proteins in the cytoplasm (blue), the space where most cellular activities and chemical reactions occur. Nestled within this space are large complexes called ribosomes (magenta), which act as the cell’s protein-making machines. Beyond this layer sees folded up filaments of DNA (yellow) and mRNA (pink), the string of messenger code that contains the instruction manual for making each protein. Learn More: Paper: