Beckman Center for Cryo-Electron Tomography

The Beckman Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy provides access to state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) for structural investigation of macromolecules within and outside cells. The facility currently houses a 300 keV Titan Krios G3i microscope equipped with phase plate, K3 Summit Direct Detector camera and Bioquantum GIF energy filter. In the near future, it is set to incorporate a Glacios operating at 200 keV to its equipment.

For sample preparation, the facility is equipped with Leica EM GP and Vitrobot Mark IV cryo plungers, along with various supporting accessories. For advanced preparation steps toward cryo-ET, the facility offers an Alveole micropatterning device, which enables cell growth on EM-compatible substrates, optimizing them for further processing and imaging. Additionally, a Zeiss LSM900 laser scanning confocal microscope with a cryostage supports correlative cryogenic workflows, designed specifically for targeted cryo-EM and cryo-ET data acquisition.

Moreover, a Zeiss Crossbeam 550—equipped with a Linkam cryostage, a Delmic Meteor in-chamber fluorescence microscope, high signal-to-noise primary and secondary electron detectors, and advanced electron optics—enables volumetric scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reconstructions and precise thinning of biological specimens, facilitating targeted cryo-ET analysis.

For cryo-ET-related inquiries, please reach out to cryo-et@lists.upenn.edu. For more information, see Services and Instrumentation.