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

Protein Organization01:13

Protein Organization

157.0K
Overview
157.0K
Protein Organization01:24

Protein Organization

9.4K
Proteins are polymers of amino acid residues. They are versatile and responsible for different cellular functions, including DNA replication, molecular transport, catalysis, and structural support. Proteins have a hierarchical structure comprising at least three levels of organization: primary, secondary, and tertiary structure. Some large proteins have a quaternary structure where individual protein subunits are linked together.
The primary structure of a protein is its amino acid sequence....
9.4K
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

13.8K
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.
13.8K
Scanning Electron Microscopy01:07

Scanning Electron Microscopy

5.4K
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...
5.4K
Transmission Electron Microscopy01:15

Transmission Electron Microscopy

7.0K
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...
7.0K
Immunogold Electron Microscopy01:20

Immunogold Electron Microscopy

5.4K
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.
5.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

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

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Vesicle3D: An Integrative Platform for 3D Segmentation and Analysis of Vesicles in Cryo-electron Tomograms.

Neuroscience bulletin·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
Same journal

Tomogram exploration through template matching and deep learning.

Current opinion in structural biology·2026
Same journal

A comparative review of cryo-electron ptychography: Biological applications and future perspectives.

Current opinion in structural biology·2026
Same journal

Metabolic disruptions through a three-dimensional genomic lens.

Current opinion in structural biology·2026
Same journal

Collective variable design for biomolecular conformational dynamics.

Current opinion in structural biology·2026
Same journal

Polymer scaling in protein crowding: From dilute coils to semidilute meshes.

Current opinion in structural biology·2026
Same journal

Tuning the physicochemical properties of rationally designed protein-based biomolecular condensates.

Current opinion in structural biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Revealing Dynamic Processes of Materials in Liquids Using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy
07:37

Revealing Dynamic Processes of Materials in Liquids Using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: December 20, 2012

13.3K

Postsynaptic protein organization revealed by electron microscopy.

Yun-Tao Liu1, Chang-Lu Tao1, Pak-Ming Lau1

  • 1Center for Integrative Imaging, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|March 25, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Electron microscopy reveals nanoscale structures in neuronal synapses, crucial for learning and memory. Advanced imaging techniques enhance our understanding of synaptic organization and function.

More Related Videos

Correlative Super-resolution and Electron Microscopy to Resolve Protein Localization in Zebrafish Retina
12:28

Correlative Super-resolution and Electron Microscopy to Resolve Protein Localization in Zebrafish Retina

Published on: November 10, 2017

9.9K
Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles
11:16

Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles

Published on: August 7, 2016

10.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Revealing Dynamic Processes of Materials in Liquids Using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy
07:37

Revealing Dynamic Processes of Materials in Liquids Using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: December 20, 2012

13.3K
Correlative Super-resolution and Electron Microscopy to Resolve Protein Localization in Zebrafish Retina
12:28

Correlative Super-resolution and Electron Microscopy to Resolve Protein Localization in Zebrafish Retina

Published on: November 10, 2017

9.9K
Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles
11:16

Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles

Published on: August 7, 2016

10.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Neuronal synapses transmit and process information, forming the basis of learning and memory.
  • Synaptic plasticity involves nanoscale structural changes within synapses.
  • Understanding synaptic organization is key to deciphering neural function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the nanoscale organization of synaptic structures using high-resolution imaging.
  • To characterize the arrangement of neurotransmitter receptors and scaffolds in postsynaptic densities.
  • To explore how advanced electron microscopy techniques can further elucidate synaptic molecular architecture.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution imaging, particularly electron microscopy (EM).
  • Specific EM techniques including immuno-EM, cryo-electron tomography, and electron tomography of high-pressure freezing and freeze-substituted samples.
  • Correlative approaches combining different imaging modalities.

Main Results:

  • Quantitative analysis of nanoscale structures in various synapse types is achievable with EM.
  • The semi-ordered organization of receptors and scaffolds in postsynaptic densities has been characterized.
  • EM techniques provide detailed insights into both excitatory and inhibitory synapses.

Conclusions:

  • High-resolution EM is essential for quantitative analysis of synaptic nanoscale structures.
  • Advanced EM techniques reveal the molecular organization within postsynaptic densities.
  • Future applications of these techniques will deepen our understanding of synaptic plasticity and function.