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

4.4K
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...
4.4K
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

15.0K
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.
15.0K
Scanning Electron Microscopy01:07

Scanning Electron Microscopy

5.6K
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to study the surface features of a sample by using an electron beam that scans the sample surface in a two-dimensional manner. Typically, areas between ~1 centimeter to 5 micrometers in width can be imaged. SEM can be used to image bacteria, viruses, tissues as well as larger samples like insects. Conventional SEM gives a magnification ranging from 20X to 30,000X and spatial resolution of 50 to 100 nanometers.
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
5.6K
Transmission Electron Microscopy01:15

Transmission Electron Microscopy

7.3K
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...
7.3K
Immunogold Electron Microscopy01:20

Immunogold Electron Microscopy

5.5K
Immunoelectron microscopy utilizes immunogold labeling of endogenous proteins with specific antibodies to detect and localize these proteins in cells and tissues. The procedure provides insights into the distribution and quantification of protein under different stimulation conditions offering clues about their functions. Conjugating highly electron-dense gold particles with primary or secondary antibodies allow antigen detection on and within cells, with high resolution and specificity.
5.5K
Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy01:20

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy

7.2K
To be visualized by an electron microscope, either transmission or scanning, biological samples need to be fixed (stabilized) so the electron beam does not destroy them and dried thoroughly (desiccated/dehydrated) so the vacuum does not affect them. Fixation needs to be done as quickly as possible because the sample properties will start changing as soon as it is removed from its natural environment. For example, in a tissue sample, the oxygen levels begin decreasing, causing an altered...
7.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Localization of p210 BCR-ABL to the Mitochondria Promotes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cell Proliferation Through cIAP Signaling.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·2026
Same author

Nanointerface-Guided Pt Deposition on Co-Mn Oxide-SnO<sub>2</sub> Supports for High ORR Durability and Activity.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025
Same author

Chloroplast-actin filaments decide the direction of chloroplast avoidance movement under strong light in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Journal of plant research·2024
Same author

Ligand-Dependent Intramolecular Motion of Native Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Determined in Living Myotube Cells via Diffracted X-ray Tracking.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023
Same author

Microstructural observation of the swollen catalyst layers of fuel cells by cryo-TEM.

Microscopy (Oxford, England)·2022
Same author

Abnormal male reproduction and embryonic development induced by downregulation of a phospholipid fatty acid-introducing enzyme Lpgat1 in zebrafish.

Scientific reports·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Micropatterning Transmission Electron Microscopy Grids to Direct Cell Positioning within Whole-Cell Cryo-Electron Tomography Workflows
09:53

Micropatterning Transmission Electron Microscopy Grids to Direct Cell Positioning within Whole-Cell Cryo-Electron Tomography Workflows

Published on: September 13, 2021

7.7K

[Cryo-Electron Microscopy].

Atsuo Miyazawa1

  • 1Department of Picobiology, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo.

Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No Shinpo
|June 12, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) uses advanced techniques like rapid freezing and direct electron detection cameras to determine molecular structures. This enables high-resolution 3D analysis of proteins and cellular components.

Area of Science:

  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a powerful technique for visualizing biological structures.
  • It involves rapid freezing, observation of hydrated specimens, and 3D image processing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline the diverse technical methods within cryo-EM.
  • To highlight advancements in cryo-EM for high-resolution structural determination.
  • To discuss the applications of different cryo-EM techniques.

Main Methods:

  • Electron crystallography for atomic-level protein structures.
  • Single particle analysis for non-crystalline biomolecules in solution.
  • Electron tomography for cellular structures at nm-level resolution.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Cryo-Electron Microscopy by Automated Data Collection and Analysis Techniques
07:52

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Cryo-Electron Microscopy by Automated Data Collection and Analysis Techniques

Published on: December 1, 2023

1.5K
Low-Cost Cryo-Light Microscopy Stage Fabrication for Correlated Light/Electron Microscopy
10:00

Low-Cost Cryo-Light Microscopy Stage Fabrication for Correlated Light/Electron Microscopy

Published on: June 5, 2011

15.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Micropatterning Transmission Electron Microscopy Grids to Direct Cell Positioning within Whole-Cell Cryo-Electron Tomography Workflows
09:53

Micropatterning Transmission Electron Microscopy Grids to Direct Cell Positioning within Whole-Cell Cryo-Electron Tomography Workflows

Published on: September 13, 2021

7.7K
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Cryo-Electron Microscopy by Automated Data Collection and Analysis Techniques
07:52

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Cryo-Electron Microscopy by Automated Data Collection and Analysis Techniques

Published on: December 1, 2023

1.5K
Low-Cost Cryo-Light Microscopy Stage Fabrication for Correlated Light/Electron Microscopy
10:00

Low-Cost Cryo-Light Microscopy Stage Fabrication for Correlated Light/Electron Microscopy

Published on: June 5, 2011

15.9K

Main Results:

  • Cryo-EM enables atomic resolution for membrane proteins via electron crystallography.
  • Near-atomic resolution is achievable for purified proteins using single particle analysis.
  • Electron tomography provides near-native structural insights into cellular components.

Conclusions:

  • New CMOS cameras improve cryo-EM by enabling motion correction through recorded image series.
  • Advancements in image processing and algorithms are crucial for enhancing resolution.
  • Cryo-EM techniques offer versatile approaches for 3D structural analysis of biological systems.