This 3-D reconstruction reveals details such as the nucleus (blue) and mitochondria (purple) of a skin cell, as well as hairlike proteins (brown, at bottom) that link cells to each other. Credit: Achilleas Frangakis, EMBL

Scientists can now see how proteins organize and interact, thanks to the tech­nology that created this image of skin tissue. The technique reveals the structure of proteins and the relationships among them in unprece­dented detail, providing information that's vital for understanding disease and cell functions. "When you see the proteins, you immediately also see ... how they interact in an undisturbed environment," says Achilleas Frangakis, the biologist who led the research at the European Molecular ­Biology Laboratory in ­Heidelberg, Germany. "At this resolution, the cell is essentially an uncharted terri­tory."

Select from the choices above to read the entire article.