Cell and Tissue Imaging Center: Electron Microscopy

The Cell and Tissue Imaging Center is a fully staffed microscopy core available to all St. Jude researchers. Its mission is to drive and accelerate the use of a broad spectrum of sophisticated light microscopy, electron microscopy and image data processing technologies.  Expert imaging scientists are on hand to guide and assist throughout the experimental process up to the point of publication. As well as instrument training and operation, helping with sample preparation, and guiding analyses, staff can help to select the best imaging strategies to answer specific research questions. The Light Microscopy and Electron Microscopy divisions also collaborate to provide correlated light and electron microscopy imaging. Costs are heavily subsidized by the institution to speed discovery.  

The CTIC-EM is a highly specialized resource providing 2D and 3D nanometer scale (1/100,000 the width of a human hair) imaging of cells and tissues to St. Jude researchers. The facility houses an array of leading-edge imaging systems and a staff with expertise in multiple areas of ultrastructural imaging including immunogold labeling, Tokuyasu cryoultramicrotomy, and volume EM. Staff are available for individual consultations on project set-up, optimization, and initiation and guidance on image analysis as requested and in conjunction with the Center for Bioimage Informatics. 

Instrumentation

Thermo Scientific Helios Laser Hydra 

• multi-gas plasma focused ion beam scanning electron microscope providing large area subcellular 3-dimensional imaging with a choice of plasma sources to suit sample needs and a femtosecond laser to speed sample preparation

Thermo Scientific Tecnai G2 F20-Twin 

• transmission electron microscope equipped for electron tomography and providing resolution to 0.27 nm

Zeiss GeminSEM 460 

• field emission scanning electron microscope equipped for high speed, large area imaging of samples as well as variable pressure operation for non-conductive samples

Zeiss Crossbeam 550 

• focused ion beam scanning electron microscope providing 3-dimensional imaging as sub-cellular resolutions and a gallium ion beam for sample milling.

Preparatory equipment

(1) Leica EM ICE High Pressure Freezer

(2) Leica AFS2/FSP systems for processing frozen samples

(2) Leica EMTP systems for room temperture processing

Pella BioWave microwave

(1) Tousimis AutoSamdri critical point drier

(4) Leica UC7/ARTOS ultramicrotome systems with cryoultramicrotomy capabilities

Denton and Leica high vacuum coating systems