Cryo-EM provides structural information; sometimes at atomic or near atomic resolution for proteins not amenable to traditional X-ray crystallography such as multi-protein complexes, large membrane proteins, and antibodies. Cryo-EM, visualizes protein molecules in the native state or states as they existed, prior to cryo-immobilization, in solution. This enables structure-based drug discovery.

The quality of the sample is the key to a successful outcome. However, with the conventional method it could be time consuming and tedious to screen for the optimum conditions. A recent Whitepaper co-authored by Thermo Fisher Scientific, The University of Bern and NovAliX describes a new SEM-STEM procedure for increasing the sample screening throughput, which facilitates the optimization of sample preparation.

Access to whitepaper