The Microscope- Titan Krios
The Titan Krios is a 300 kV FEG machine equipped with an autoloader and can screen up to 12 grids. On the pre-GIF position, a general purpose CETA (CMOS) camera and a CMOS direct detector Falcon 3 are housed. The instrument also has a Volta Phase plate. In addition, the microscope is also equipped with a Quantum energy filter and a K2 direct detector. The microscope can also perform STEM and relevant detectors are present (HAADAF, BF and DF) in the pre-GIF position. Thus, the instrument is equipped for high-resolution single particle data collection as well as tomography. We strongly recommend the usage of cryo imaging and not room temperature.
Vitrobot Mark IV-The grid freezing apparatus
An important step in cryoEM is specimen preparation, which involves depositing a protein solution on grid, blotting excess fluid and rapid freezing using liquid ethane. The pre-treatment of grid that is to make it hydrophilic or hydrophobic is done with a glow discharge apparatus. This allows the protein solution to spread nicely on to the grids. The grids can then be used for freezing with a Vitrobot (Thermo Fisher Scientific), which has a controlled chamber for maintaining humidity and temperature.
Accessory instruments
Quorum Glocube
Pelco easiglowTM
Edwards Benchtop Carbon Evaporator, BT150
