Trans-NIH Electron Microscopy Shared Facility

Thursday, October 11, 2012 — NIH Core Poster Session
10:00 a.m. – Noon	Building 10 South Lobby	NIBIB	CORE-8

Author

• Vlad Speransky

Abstract

The Trans-NIH Electron Microscopy Facility situated in NIBIB’s Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science Shared Resource provides intramural investigators with tools for characterizing subcellular structure using both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and associated specimen preparation methods. Available techniques include conventional chemical fixation, embedding and sectioning of cells and tissues for TEM, high-pressure freezing and freeze-substitution for optimized specimen preservation, and immunolabeling methods to identify specific proteins based on pre- and post-embedding procedures. The facility provides the capability for determining three-dimensional subcellular structure using automated electron tomography. In addition, investigators have access to methods for determining structure of isolated macromolecular complexes by negative staining, as well as mass mapping based on scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of unstained preparations. The facility includes one of the few SEMs on the NIH campus, providing a capability for determining the surface morphology of cells and biomaterials. Training is offered for some of the instruments in the facility so that researchers can record their own electron micrographs.

back to top