Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Preparation and Observation of Thick Biological Samples by Scanning Transmission Electron Tomography
Published on: March 12, 2017
Electron tomography of biological samples.
S Marco1, T Boudier, C Messaoudi
1Institut Curie, Section Recherche, UMR-CNRS 168 et LRC-CEA 34V 11, 75005 Paris, France. sergio.marco@curie.fr
Electron tomography reconstructs 3D structures from multiple images. This technique, especially with cryo-transmission electron microscopy and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy, advances structural biology and chemical analysis.
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Microscopy
- Biophysics
Background:
- Electron tomography (ET) enables 3D reconstruction of objects from projection images.
- It is widely used with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for analyzing subcellular structures and organelles.
- ET on frozen-hydrated samples provides insights into complex biological architectures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the requirements, applications, and future perspectives of electron tomography in structural biology.
- To highlight the integration of ET with advanced microscopy techniques.
- To discuss the utility of ET in elemental distribution analysis.
Main Methods:
- Electron tomography (ET) using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
- Application of energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) for elemental mapping.
- Analysis of frozen-hydrated biological samples.
Main Results:
- ET provides high-resolution 3D reconstructions of biological specimens.
- Combined ET-TEM offers detailed insights into cellular ultrastructure.
- ET-EFTEM allows for the spatial mapping of chemical elements within samples.
Conclusions:
- Electron tomography is a powerful tool for 3D structural analysis in biology.
- Its combination with EFTEM expands its capabilities to elemental analysis.
- ET holds significant promise for future advancements in structural biology research.
Related Concept Videos
X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
Transmission Electron Microscopy
Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy
Cryo-electron Microscopy
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...

