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Accessing nuclear structure for field emission, in lens, scanning electron microscopy (FEISEM)
T D Allen1, G R Bennion, S A Rutherford
1CRC Department of Structural Cell Biology, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UK. ulttda@picr.cr.man.ac.uk
Scanning Microscopy. Supplement
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEISEM) offers high-resolution, 3D imaging of nuclear surfaces and structures like nuclear pore complexes. This technique enhances understanding of subcellular structure-function relationships in cell biology.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy
Background:
- Conventional Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) provides surface imaging but has lower resolution than Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
- Subcellular imaging at high resolution was limited by conventional SEM's capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEISEM) for imaging nuclear surfaces.
- To explore the visualization of nuclear pore complexes and their relationships with cellular components.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEISEM) with high-brightness sources for nanometer-scale resolution.
- Employing biochemical and mechanical isolation methods to prepare nuclear surfaces for imaging.
Main Results:
- FEISEM achieves approximately 1-nanometer resolution, overcoming previous limitations for biological material.
- Direct, three-dimensional visualization of subcellular structures, including nuclear surfaces and nuclear pore complexes, is enabled.
- FEISEM facilitates the study of structural modulation and its functional significance.
Conclusions:
- High-resolution FEISEM significantly enhances the study of subcellular structures in three dimensions.
- FEISEM provides valuable insights into the structure and function of nuclear surfaces and associated complexes.
- This technique allows cell biologists to directly visualize and understand the functional significance of subcellular organization.