Details: PBS (150 mM NaCl, 5.8 mM NaH2PO4/Na2HPO4) pH: 7.4
Vitrification
Cryogen Name
ETHANE
Instrument
HOMEMADE PLUNGER
Method
A small vial of ethane is placed inside a larger liquid nitrogen reservoir. The grid holding a few microliters of the sample is held in place at the bottom of a plunger by the means of fine tweezers. Once the ethane in the vial is completely frozen, it needs to be slightly melted. When the liquid ethane is ready, a piece of filter paper is then pressed against the sample to blot of excess buffer, sufficient to leave a thin layer on the grid. After a redetermined time, the filter paper is removed, and the plunger is allowed to drop into the liquid ethane. Once the grid enters the liquid ethane, the sample is rapidly frozen,and the grid is transferred under liquid nitrogen to a storage box immersed liquid nitrogen for later use in the microscope.
Details
Vitrification instrument: self-construction
Imaging
Microscope
FEI TECNAI F20
Electron Gun
Electron Source
FIELD EMISSION GUN
Accelerating Voltage
160 kV
Electron Dose
12 e/A**2
Illumination Mode
FLOOD BEAM
Lens
Magnification
Nominal: 50000, Calibrated: 51064
Astigmatism
objective lens astigmatism was corrected at 100,000 times magnification
Nominal Cs
2 mm
Imaging Mode
BRIGHT FIELD
Defocus
1501 nm - 2066 nm
Specimen Holder
Holder
Side entry liquid nitrogen-cooled cryo specimen holder