High-resolution cryo-EM structures of small protein–ligand complexes near the theoretical size limit

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a widely used technique for determining macromolecular structures at near-atomic resolution. The theoretical lower limit of particle sizes suitable for cryo-EM structural analysis is estimated to be 38 kDa; typical constraints involve factors such as image contrast and particle alignment accuracy. In this study, we present cryo-EM structures of two protein-ligand complexes near this lower size threshold. First, the structure of the maltose-binding protein complexed with maltose, with a structurally ordered mass of 40.8 kDa, was determined at a resolution of 2.4 Å; both the maltose and water molecules were clearly identified in this structure. The second structure was the kinase domain of human PLK1 complexed with onvansertib, with a structurally ordered mass of 31.6 kDa, below the theoretical 38 kDa limit; this domain was determined at a resolution of 3.4 Å using a gold-supported grid in the presence of β-octyl-glucoside. The density map clearly shows the backbone of PLK1 secondary structure, and the onvansertib. These results demonstrate that cryo-EM can be effectively employed to determine structures of small proteins or domains, and to perform structure-based drug screening for small proteins, without requiring structural fiducials for particle alignment.