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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Preparation of High-Temperature Sample Grids for Cryo-EM
Published on: July 26, 2021
Beyond structures of highly symmetric purified viral capsids by cryo-EM
Robert Stass1, Serban L Ilca1, Juha T Huiskonen2
1Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, UK.
Abstract:
Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is widely used to determine high-resolution structures of symmetric virus capsids. The method holds promise for extending studies beyond purified capsids and their symmetric protein shells. The non-symmetric genome component has been addressed in dsRNA cypoviruses and ssRNA bacteriophages Qβ and MS2. The structure of human herpes simplex virus type 1 capsids has been determined within intact virions to resolve capsid-tegument interactions. Electron tomography under cryogenic conditions (cryo-ET), has allowed resolving an early membrane fusion intermediate of Rift Valley fever virus. Antibody-affinity based sample grids allow capturing of virions directly from cell cultures or even clinical samples. These and other emerging methods will support studies to address viral entry, assembly and neutralization processes at increasingly high resolutions and native conditions.
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