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Related Concept Videos

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.
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 Microscopy Techniques01:22

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...
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...
Transmission Electron Microscopy01:15

Transmission Electron Microscopy

In 1931, physicist Ernst Ruska—building on the idea that magnetic fields can direct an electron beam just as lenses can direct a beam of light in an optical microscope—developed the first prototype of the electron microscope. This development led to the development of the field of electron microscopy. In the transmission electron microscope (TEM), electrons are produced by a hot tungsten element and accelerated by a potential difference in an electron gun, which gives them up to 400 keV in...
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:29

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

In situ TEM of Biological Assemblies in Liquid
08:28

In situ TEM of Biological Assemblies in Liquid

Published on: December 30, 2013

Visualization of bionanostructures using transmission electron microscopical techniques.

Bjoern Sander1, Monika M Golas

  • 1Stereology and Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Århus, Denmark. bsander@ki.au.dk

Microscopy Research and Technique
|June 24, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Transmission electron microscopy visualizes nanostructures, aiding understanding of their formation and function. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) preserves native structures for detailed analysis, advancing nanomaterial science and nanomedicine.

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Last Updated: May 31, 2026

In situ TEM of Biological Assemblies in Liquid
08:28

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Published on: December 30, 2013

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy
10:49

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 5, 2017

Visualization of Organelles In Situ by Cryo-STEM Tomography
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Visualization of Organelles In Situ by Cryo-STEM Tomography

Published on: June 23, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology and Materials Science
  • Structural Biology
  • Biomedical Research

Background:

  • Nanotechnology enables the design of nanoscale structures using self-assembling building blocks like DNA and RNA.
  • Accurate visualization and characterization of nanostructures are crucial for understanding their formation and functionality.
  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a key technique for direct visualization of individual nanostructures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe sample preparation and imaging methods for characterizing nanostructures using electron microscopy.
  • To discuss the application of these techniques in nanomaterial science, nanomedicine, and structural biology.
  • To highlight the benefits, limitations, and resolution challenges associated with different electron microscopy approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Sample preparation techniques including plunge-freezing, negative staining, and cryo-negative staining.
  • Imaging and image processing methods such as electron crystallography, electron tomography, and single-particle electron microscopy (EM).
  • Vitrification via plunge-freezing for cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to preserve near-native structures.

Main Results:

  • Cryo-EM provides in-solution snapshots of nanostructures under cryogenic conditions, preserving their native state.
  • Various EM techniques offer complementary approaches for detailed structural characterization.
  • Analysis of deviations from ideal symmetry and structural heterogeneity is essential for achieving high resolution.

Conclusions:

  • Electron microscopy techniques, particularly cryo-EM, are vital for the structural characterization of self-assembled nanostructures.
  • These methods provide insights into nanostructure formation, functionality, and potential applications in diverse scientific fields.
  • Nanotechnology-derived structures hold promise for advancements in nanomaterial science, nanomedicine, and structural biology research.