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Cryo-electron Microscopy

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...

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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Visualization of DNA Compaction in Cyanobacteria by High-voltage Cryo-electron Tomography

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Published on: July 17, 2018

Direct visualization of floppy two-dimensional DNA origami using cryogenic electron microscopy.

Heng Ni¹, Xiao Fan², Feng Zhou¹

¹Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.

|May 27, 2022

Summary

This study visualizes 2D DNA origami cross-tiles in solution, revealing flexible arms and inter-tile folding. These findings offer insights into DNA origami self-assembly and dynamic behavior for nanotechnology applications.

Keywords:

Biomaterials Materials characterization Materials chemistry Materials science

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Last Updated: Sep 21, 2025

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Area of Science:

Nanotechnology and Nanobiotechnology
Structural Biology
Materials Science

Background:

Two-dimensional (2D) DNA origami enables bottom-up synthesis of complex nano/biotechnological structures.
Understanding the solution behavior of DNA origami components is crucial for controlling self-assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

To directly visualize the aqueous structure of 2D DNA origami cross-tiles and their assemblies.
To investigate the dynamic properties and self-assembly mechanisms of DNA origami in solution.

Main Methods:

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for direct visualization of DNA origami structures in solution.
Finite element analysis (FEA) for quantitative evaluation of DNA origami flexibility.

Main Results:

Flexible arms and inter-tile folding were observed in 2D DNA origami cross-tile monomers.
Formation of clusters and stacks of DNA cross-tiles in solution was identified.
Quantitative flexibility of DNA origami in solution was determined using FEA.

Conclusions:

Direct visualization provides foundational insights into the dynamic structures of 2D DNA origami assemblies in solution.
Findings elucidate self-assembly and self-replication mechanisms, crucial for advancing DNA origami applications.