Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction01:07

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.
Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy01:37

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Using <i>spIsoNet</i> to address the preferred-orientation problem in cryoEM reconstructions.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Structure and potential role of T6SS effector PdpC in Francisella tularensis intracellular lifestyle.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Transport mechanism of the SLC4 proteins-Lessons from recent structural and computational studies.

The Journal of biological chemistry·2026
Same author

Toxoplasma IMC1 is a central component of the subpellicular network and plays critical roles in parasite morphology, replication, and infectivity.

PLoS pathogens·2026
Same author

Atomic clarity: how structural biology is shaping blood-stage malaria vaccines.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·2026
Same author

The tumour suppressor RBM5 activates the helicase DHX15 to regulate splicing.

Research square·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction
09:25

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

Atomic resolution cryo electron microscopy of macromolecular complexes.

Z Hong Zhou1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA.

Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology
|April 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Single-particle cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) now provides near-atomic resolution structures of molecular complexes. This technique reveals molecular interactions missed by X-ray crystallography, advancing structural biology.

More Related Videos

Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy: From Sample to Structure
11:52

Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy: From Sample to Structure

Published on: May 29, 2021

A Robust Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) Processing Workflow with cryoSPARC, RELION, and Scipion
13:43

A Robust Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) Processing Workflow with cryoSPARC, RELION, and Scipion

Published on: January 31, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction
09:25

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy: From Sample to Structure
11:52

Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy: From Sample to Structure

Published on: May 29, 2021

A Robust Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) Processing Workflow with cryoSPARC, RELION, and Scipion
13:43

A Robust Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) Processing Workflow with cryoSPARC, RELION, and Scipion

Published on: January 31, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Single-particle cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) determines 3D structures of molecular complexes in their native state.
  • Recent advances enable near-atomic resolution, facilitating de novo atomic model building.
  • cryoEM reveals molecular interactions often missed by X-ray crystallography.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the capabilities of single-particle cryoEM for structural determination.
  • To discuss the factors critical for achieving high-resolution cryoEM structures.
  • To position cryoEM as a key tool in structural biology.

Main Methods:

  • Acquisition of projection images of molecular complexes.
  • Correction of image distortions and refinement of image parameters.
  • 3D density map reconstruction and atomic model building.

Main Results:

  • Determination of atomic or near-atomic resolution structures of viruses and protein assemblies.
  • Identification of extended molecular interaction sites.
  • Demonstration of cryoEM's power in resolving complex structures.

Conclusions:

  • Single-particle cryoEM is a powerful tool for structural biology.
  • It complements and sometimes surpasses X-ray crystallography for studying molecular interactions.
  • cryoEM is essential for investigating supramolecular assemblies and molecular machines.