Cryo-EM

The Cryo-EM Swedish National Facility offers access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise in single particle cryo-EM and cryo-tomography (cryo-ET). The Facility has two nodes: at SciLifeLab in Stockholm and at Umeå Core Facility for Electron Microscopy at Umeå University. Our aim is to provide:

1. An internationally competitive infrastructure that is accessible to all academic scientists in Sweden on equal terms.
2. A training environment where researchers can become familiar with cutting-edge methods in cryo-EM.
3. An educational framework of scientific meetings, practical workshops and training courses to enhance the activity of the broad Swedish scientific community.

The Facility is supported by SciLifeLab, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Family Erling Persson Foundation, the Kempe Foundations, Stockholm University and Umeå University.

Services

The facility provides service and user training for all aspects of cryo-EM projects, including project planning, sample preparation, screening, data collection and data analysis.

SciLifeLab in Stockholm offers single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-ET of plunge-frozen samples, using a Talos Arctica for sample optimization/data acquisition and two Titan Krioses for high-resolution data collection. Development of a service for micro-ED is under way and diffraction projects are accepted. The Stockholm node offers also a bi-weekly drop-in service for help with image processing.  

The Umeå node offers single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-ET of plunge-frozen samples with a Titan Krios, Focused Ion Beam (FIB) lamellae preparation for cryo-ET with a Scios DualBeam SEM and sample optimization support with a Talos L120. The Umeå node also offers a number of other TEM and SEM applications and sample preparation support, e.g. high pressure freezing, cryo-CLEM, for which further information can be found at www.umu.se/en/ucem.

Drop-in service

We offer a biweekly Drop-In Service to help you with data processing and/or to discuss your to-be EM projects. We are available for counselling either in person of via Skype/Zoom. Just contact us at cryoEM_stockholm_lab@scilifelab.se or book one-hour slot in this calendar.

Applications

Using the Application Portal, the facilities can be accessed by Swedish researchers through a peer-reviewed routine. Two types of applications are available: Rapid Access (RA) and BAG (Block Allocation Group). RA applications can be submitted at any time, they are evaluated for technical feasibility and allocated time in the next quarter. BAG applications are evaluated once a year by a national Project Evaluation Committee, based on their scientific merit and technical feasibility.

Equipment

Stockholm node

Titan Krios G2, equipped with a Ceta CMOS, a Falcon III and Gatan K3 BioQuantum electron detectors and a Volta phase plate

Titan Krios G3i, equipped with a Ceta-D camera and a Gatan K3 BioQuantum detector

Talos Arctica equipped with Falcon III, Gatan K2 and Ceta CMOS with EPU-D for diffraction

Umeå node

Titan Krios G2, equipped with a Ceta CMOS, Falcon III and Gatan K2 BioQuantum electron detectors and Volta phase plate

Talos L120C, equipped with Ceta CMOS detectorScios DualBeam FIB-SEM, equipped with Trinity T1/T2, ET-SE, ICE, DBS, CCD, Nav-Cam detectors