Structural Biology Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core

Our mission is to advance research and provide scientists with cryo-electron microscopy skills and knowledge to aid in their independent research.  

Instrumentation

Cryogenic transmission electron microscope

Jeol CryoARM300

The instrument is a 300 kV high-resolution TEM equipped with Gatan K3 direct electron detector camera (24 Megapixels; 5,760x 4,092) capable of providing imaging efficiency, through fast imaging speeds and increased resolution. The system is composed of an autoloading specimen stage held at liquid nitrogen temperatures for up to 12 vitrified specimens. The stage and storage system are automatically refilled with liquid nitrogen to preserve the vitreous state of the samples. The electrons are sourced from a cold Field Emission Gun that produces a high-brightness electron beam with a very small energy spread, thus offering high temporal coherency thus allowing achievement of superior resolution and contrast. It is equipped with an improved in-column energy filter (Omega filter) providing higher contrast due to reduced chromatic aberration. The instrument contains hole-free phase plate that substantially increases image contrast. It is paired with SerialEM that allows for automated data acquisition, thereby increasing throughput during data collections, and decreasing user input for operation. 

Computing Resources

• Subzero – small core server
• Lustre – large core server
• HiPerGator – UF cluster
• Azure – cold storage

Services

Project meetings – Provide users with a complementary cryo-EM workflow customized to their individual projects

Real-time feedback – cryoSPARClive for every imaging session

Data storage for 30 days – Additional time may be requested for a fee ($16.67 per Tb for each month).

Data transfer – Script automatically pulls data from the Gatan PC to Subzero/Lustre*, immediately available for transfer through Globus to user’s file system of choice. Data is backed up to Azure for cold storage; may be retrieved for a fee.

Scheduling

Operation days are currently Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Prospective users will complete the application form and a project meeting will be scheduled accordingly, during which sessions will be scheduled.
Repeat users may request time by contacting the core. Please fill out a drop off form once your session has been confirmed.

Core Director

Anjelique Sawh-Gopal

Loading a sample into the JEOL CryoARM300 at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology – Structural Biology Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core

photographed by Shane Pasley

Core Rates

Rates may be combined for customized sessions.

*core retains responsibility for loading the Cryospecporter, microscope alignments and camera maintenance

**training sessions cover operation of the microscope/imaging software for data collection purposes

***imaging is performed off site, this rate is the sum of the imaging center’s rates + their indirect costs

Unexpected Downtime

Should there be any unexpected system/instrumentation downtime during your session (autoloader errors, database failures, etc.), we will reschedule you for the next mutually available time and your samples will be prioritized for any time that opens up from cancellations.