Structural biologists have made great progress in discovering the structures of individual proteins and protein complexes by using cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM). The key technological advances have been the maturation of cryo-TEM platforms (Thermo Scientific Krios and Thermo Scientific Glacios), the revolution in image processing software, the development of (electron counting) direct electron detectors and the automation of microscopy settings and data collection. In Cryo-TEM workflows in an iterative manner the biochemistry and vitrification conditions first need to be optimized before high resolution data can be acquired successfully. Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched several new products, both TEM tools and software applications, with new, better or faster integrated components.
Special attention is given to new direct electron cameras that will be integrated with our screening- and data-acquisition software. These cameras offer a higher image quality, as measured by the detective quantum efficiency DQE, and much faster recording speed at the same time. As a result, the time required to collect a full data set is reduced significantly.
Secondly, improvements in the screening and data-acquisition software reduce the time needed by the operator to select the best sample and optimal sample areas, but also eases the setup of the data collection experiment. Next to that, improvements in the optics and optical alignments of the Krios microscope enable the minimization of waiting time and in combination with new data acquisition strategies further boost productivity.
With the introduction of a data handling application a seamless and hassle-free connectivity of the sample and data between those workflow components has become possible. The application also enables the monitoring of the quality of the data as it comes in, but also provides means to improve collaboration experiments.
In this workshop, we discuss our advances on productivity enhancements in the context of the Single Particle Analysis (SPA) workflow.