Beckman Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy

The Beckman Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy provides access to Advanced Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) technologies for high-resolution structural analysis of macromolecules both in vitro and in situ. The facility is equipped with a 300 keV Titan Krios G3i featuring a phase plate, K3 Summit direct electron detector, and BioQuantum GIF energy filter. It also houses a 200 keV Glacios 2 equipped with a Falcon 4i detector and Selectris energy filter.

For sample preparation, the center offers a Vitrobot cryo-plunger along with all required accessories to support high-quality grid preparation. The facility is open to research groups at the University of Pennsylvania, external academic institutions and corporate users in the greater Philadelphia area.

The cryo-ET branch provides specialized expertise and instrumentation for advanced sample preparation workflows as well. This includes a Zeiss LSM 900 confocal microscope to support correlative cryogenic workflows and targeted cryo-ET data acquisition. Additionally, a Zeiss Crossbeam 550 (equipped with a cryostage, a Delmic Meteor in-chamber fluorescence microscope, high signal-to-noise primary and secondary electron detectors and superior electron optics) is capable of conducting volumetric scanning electron microscopy (vSEM) reconstructions and thinning of biological specimens in a targeted fashion for subsequent cryo-ET. 

For cryo-EM related requests and/or inquiries, contact cryo-em@lists.upenn.edu

For cryo-ET–related requests and/or inquiries, contact cryo-et@lists.upenn.edu

Advanced cryo-EM:

  • Freezing, screening and optimization of samples for cryo-EM (single particle analysis and LNPs).

  • High resolution SPA data acquisition of the prescreened samples on the Glacios 2 or Krios G3i microscope (based on availability).

  • Hands-on training is provided for all stages of the workflow, from sample preparation to data collection.

  • Hands-off MicroED service for small-molecule crystals and protein microcrystals.

  • Data transfer via the Penn network (internal users only), hard drives or file sharing services such as Globus (user needs to provide account).

Note: The “advanced cryo-EM” branch does not provide cryo-EM data processing and reconstruction services. However, we may be able to assist - please inquire if you need help with data processing. 

Advanced cryo-ET:

  • Training and data acquisition on the LSM900.

  • Training and data acquisition on the Crossbeam 550.

  • Assistance with sample preparation for cryo-ET

  • Assistance with and training on the Krios for cryo-ET data acquisition

  • Assistance with cryo-ET data processing and post processing/analyses on a case-by-case basis.