CRYO-METHODS

Sample preparation techniques for electron microscopy

This page gathers all the resources that use low-temperature sample preparation techniques for better morphological preservation. The samples thus prepared can be observed by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (MET) or scanning (Ministry of National Education).

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Services

  • Ultra-rapid freezing by immersion in liquid ethane or by high pressure of whole samples (bacteria, viruses, particles, liposomes, etc.) in vitreous ice up to 200 µm thick
  • Cryosections (CEMOVIS and Tokuyasu techniques)
  • Automated very low temperature cryo-substitution and resin embedding
  • Cryofracture and sublimation
  • Cryogenic transmission and scanning microscopy

Access method

  • With assistance
  • As service delivery

Resources for electron microscopy sample preparation

Designation

Plateau

Plateau

cryo-ultramicrotome
Leica UC7/FC7

Removable cryochamber, cryosphere (prevents frost contamination), anti-static system & micromanipulator

METi – Campus UPS

Cryosubstitution apparatus
AFS-2/FSP

Complete process automation, combined with a reagent management controller

METi – Campus UPS

high-pressure cryofixative
Leica EM ICE

Freezing at -8000 to -12000°/s under a pressure of 2000 bar

METi – Campus UPS

Cryoplunge
Leica EM GP

Ultra-rapid ethane freezing device, equipped with a stereo microscope

METi – Campus UPS

Cryopreparation module
PP3000T Quorum

FEI Quanta 250 FEG SEM cryo-transfer chamber
for coating, cryo-fracturing and sublimation

CMEAB, Rangueil Faculty of Medicine

Some publications produced with the help of these resources:

  • Bidimensional lamellar assembly by coordination of peptidic homopolymers to platinum nanoparticles. Nat Commun., 11(1):2051. Manai G., Houimel H., Rigoulet M., Gillet A., Fazzini PF., Ibarra A., Balor S., Roblin P., Esvan J., Coppel Y., Chaudret B., Bonduelle C., Tricard S. (2020)
  • Good Vibrations: Structural Remodeling of Maturing Yeast Pre-40S Ribosomal Particles Followed by Cryo-Electron Microscopy. Molecules. 25(5):1125. Shayan R., Rinaldi D., Larburu N., Plassart L., Balor S., Bouyssié D., Lebaron S., Marcoux J., Gleizes PE., Plisson-Chastang C. (2020)
  • Post-mitotic dynamics of pre-nucleolar bodies is driven by pre-rRNA processing. J. Cell Science October 2012. Carron C, Balor S, Delavoie F, Plisson-Chastang C, Faubladier M, Gleizes PE, O’Donohue MF
  • Cord factor (trehalose 6,6′-dimycolate) forms fully stable and non-permeable lipid bilayers required for a functional outer membrane. Biochim Biophys Acta. Sep. 2013. Rath P, Saurel O, Czaplicki G, Tropis M, Daffé M, Ghazi A, Demange P, Milon A.
  • Artificial feeding of Varroa destructor through a chitosan membrane: a tool for studying the host-microparasite relationship. Tabart J1, Colin ME, Carayon JL, Tene N, Payre B, Vetillard A. Exp Appl Acarol, 2013,61(1), 107-18.
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