Fully hydrated yeast cells imaged with electron microscopy

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Microscopy Techniques
• Biophysics

Background:

• Traditional electron microscopy requires extensive sample preparation, which can introduce artifacts and alter cellular structures.
• Light microscopy offers lower resolution and is limited in visualizing fine intracellular details.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate nanometer-resolution electron microscopy of fully hydrated, living eukaryotic cells.
• To visualize native intracellular ultrastructure without fixation, staining, or labeling.

Main Methods:

• Utilized scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to image living Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells in a microfluidic chamber under hydrated conditions.
• Correlated STEM images with light microscopy images of the same samples.

Main Results:

• Achieved a spatial resolution of 32 ± 8 nm, significantly surpassing light microscopy capabilities for pristine cells.
• Successfully identified various intracellular components based on shape, size, location, and mass density in wild-type and mutant cells.
• Visualized native intracellular (ultra)structures without prior sample manipulation.

Conclusions:

• Liquid STEM enables high-resolution imaging of live cells in their native, hydrated state.
• This technique provides a powerful new tool for exploring cellular ultrastructure, complementing light microscopy.
• Anticipate broad applications of liquid STEM in live-cell research.