Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Instruments

The core facility houses two cryo-capable transmission electron microscopes with room temperature holders and cold stages, pumping stations for film and cold holders, and other accessory equipment for making carbon support films, glow discharge of grids, and a dark room for the development of electron micrographs.

Tecnai T12:

Voltage: up to 120keV
Source: LaB6
Lens: Twin
Detectors: 1kx1k CCD, TV-camera, film camera

The microscope has two dedicated GATAN cryo-holders in addition to the room temperature holder, and is fully equipped for low dose applications. However, currently this microscope is used mostly for sample screening in negative stain.

Tecnai F20:

Voltage: up to 200keV
Source: Schottky Field Emission Gun
Lens: Twin
Detectors: 1kx1k CCD, TV-camera, film camera

The microscope has two GATAN cryo-holders, and is dedicated to the collection of data from frozen samples. Upgrade of this instrument to carry out automated data acquisition is expected in 2005/2006.A high-resolution, ZEISS image scanner is housed in the image processing facility (SHM 50-52) along with an optical bench and DEC Alpha server. The facility also provides access to SGI graphics workstations and maintains image processing software packages for single particle and electron crystallographic applications. It is anticipated that the facility will provide access to the Yale supercomputer network in the near future.