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Electron Microscopy

Brandeis University has a state-of-the art electron microscopy facility in the Rosenstiel Center (first floor). The facility includes four transmission electron microscopes: 1) For tomographic data collection, a Tecnai F30 TEM with field emission gun (FEG) electron source, a Gatan Ultrascan 4kx4k CCD camera, a eucentric “CompuStage”, Gatan Imaging energy filter (GIF) equipped with Ultrascan 2kx2k post-GIF camera. SerialEM, software for tomographic data acquisition, has been installed and calibrated for both 200 and 300keV; the instrument is ideally suited for cellular cryo-electron tomography. 2) A Philips CM12, and 3) a Philips 420T both operated at 120keV and equipped with LaB6 electron source; both instruments are used for negative stain data collection and cryo sample evaluation. 4) A FEI Morgagni, operated at 80kV, is used for screening grids of negative stain single particle and plastic sections. The microscopy suite was carefully built to minimize vibration, and all rooms, including the preparation room, are temperature and humidity controlled. Also available are ambient temperature and cryo-holders, two plunge freezers (one Vitrobot), an Edwards carbon evaporator, and two glow discharge units.

We are establishing a new facility for correlative light and electron microscopy that will allow us to study structural details of materials at scales, ranging from nanometers to many microns. The basic idea is to bring together light and electron microscopy techniques in a facility that will be unique in the nation. The correlative approach will provide a new window into the functional organization of cells and other materials. We have been able to win a major NSF-MRI grant ($930,000) to support the initiative and to buy equipment, such as light microscopes and sample preparation gear. The new instrumentation includes a high pressure freezer with rapid specimen transfer unit, a freeze substitution device, a cryoultramicrotome and two different confocal light microscopes. The lab space will be reconfigured to accommodate the space and climate-control requirements of the instruments.