Cryo EM
In cryo-electron microscopy, specimens are rapidly frozen and maintained at liquid nitrogen temperatures. By avoiding the chemical fixation, dehydration and staining required for standard EM protocols, cryo-EM aims to preserve structures close to their native, hydrated state.
The Wolfson Bioimaging Facility provides cryo-SEM and cryo-TEM techniques that have been successfully applied to image chemical and biological material such as liposomes, viruses, and larger proteins.
In recent years, cryo-TEM image acquisition and single particle analysis have advanced rapidly to reveal protein structures at a resolution that was previously only achievable by X-ray crystallography. The GW4 Cryo-EM facility enables such applications with its FEI Talos Artica TEM and also supports advanced electron tomography of cell ultrastructure.
Cryo-TEM (using the Talos L120C or Tecnai 20) within the Wolfson Bioimaging Facility enables users to screen samples and obtain preliminary data prior to more detailed analysis on the higher specification Talos Artica cryo-TEM.
GW4 Cryo-EM facility
The Wolfson Bioimaging Facility works in partnership with the GW4 Cryo-EM Facility, both located at the University of Bristol.