Biomaterial Database

High-resolution electron microscopy of biological specimens in cubic ice. 1994

M Cyrklaff, and W Kühlbrandt

European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.

Images of two biological test specimens, catalase and TMV, were recorded in cubic ice, prepared by controlled devitrification at -130 degrees C and -75 degrees C or in vitrified buffer. Cubic ice provides a rigid support for biological specimens which is stable under the electron beam to within about 1 A, as shown by images of the ice lattice. Neither catalase nor TMV were disrupted by the crystallization of vitrified water. Electron diffraction patterns of highly oriented rafts of TMV extending to 2.3 A resolution were used to judge the quality of TMV images. Structural high-resolution details of TMV was better in cubic ice, and the success rate for recording good images was higher than in vitrified medium.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007053	Ice	The solid substance formed by the FREEZING of water.
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D002374	Catalase	An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of HYDROGEN PEROXIDE to water and oxygen. It is present in many animal cells. A deficiency of this enzyme results in ACATALASIA.	Catalase A,Catalase T,Manganese Catalase,Mn Catalase
D003460	Crystallization	The formation of crystalline substances from solutions or melts. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Crystalline Polymorphs,Polymorphism, Crystallization,Crystal Growth,Polymorphic Crystals,Crystal, Polymorphic,Crystalline Polymorph,Crystallization Polymorphism,Crystallization Polymorphisms,Crystals, Polymorphic,Growth, Crystal,Polymorph, Crystalline,Polymorphic Crystal,Polymorphisms, Crystallization,Polymorphs, Crystalline
D014027	Tobacco Mosaic Virus	The type species of TOBAMOVIRUS which causes mosaic disease of NICOTIANA. Transmission occurs by mechanical inoculation.	Mosaic Virus, Tobacco,Mosaic Viruses, Tobacco,Tobacco Mosaic Viruses,Virus, Tobacco Mosaic,Viruses, Tobacco Mosaic