Cryo-EM

The Cryo-EM Swedish Infrastructure Unit offers access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise in single particle cryo-EM and cryo-tomography (cryo-ET). The Unit has two nodes: at SciLifeLab in Stockholm and at Umeå Core Unit 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 Unit 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 unit 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 an Aquilos 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 here:

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.

National Screening Network – CryoScreeNET

In order to increase the screening capacity of the unit, reach out to a larger number of researchers and train new cryo-EM experts in Sweden, we have initiated in 2021 a National Screening Network involving Uppsala, Gothenburg, Lund universities and KI. One person, partially funded by SciLifeLab, is employed at each host site to work as a reference point for local researchers interested in using cryo-EM techniques. The new off-site colleagues help newcomers in the first phase of the projects, involving specimen preparation and optimisation, screening at the local microscopes or at our Stockholm and Umeå instruments as well as help with image processing. The new off-site colleagues are trained in more advanced microscope operations at the unit and participate to courses and teaching experiences with the staff at Umeå and Stockholm. 

Applications

Using the Application Portal, the units 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 Cryo-TEM, equipped with a Ceta CMOS and Falcon 4i Selectris electron detectors and EPU Multigrid
• Glacios Cryo-TEM, equipped with a Ceta-D CMOS and Falcon 4i electron detectors and EPU Multigrid
• Talos L120C, equipped with Ceta CMOS detector
• Aquilos DualBeam FIB-SEM, equipped with Trinity T1/T2, ET-SE, ICE, DBS, CCD, Nav-Cam detectors
• Leica Cryo Thunder, wide-field light microscope, for imaging of cryo-EM grids, cryo objective (0.28 mm, 50x/0.9), sCMOS camera, multiple filter sets (DAPI, GFP, TXR)