Tools and Reagents for Cryo-EM

Digitonin is commonly used for Cryo-EM, but there are many drawbacks including batch-to-batch variability and solubility. GDN has been shown to be an effective drop-in substitute for Digitonin which is being used in a number of recent structures.

First described in 1996 by Jean-Luc Popot, amphipols are a class of polymers that can stabilize membrane proteins in a detergent-free, aqueous solution. To date, there have been over 20 Cryo-EM structures of membrane proteins determined using Amphipol A8-35.

In recent years, PMAL-C8 has been gaining traction for use in Cryo-EM with a number of unique structures published. PMAL amphipols are zwitterionic, and contain repeating units of a carboxyl, ammoniumamidate, and alkyl chain.

Non-Ionic Amphipol (NAPol) is the newest addition to our amphipol family. Soluble across a wide pH range, and compatible with multivalent cations, such as calcium and magnesium, NAPol has already been successfully used for the Cryo-EM studies of membrane proteins. Read more here.

Due to its very low CMC, the concentration of LMNG in the buffer can often be reduced to low concentrations, reducing the amount of free detergent micelles, and reducing background. Like DDM, LMNG is often used as a mixture with Cholesteryl Hemisuccinate (CHS).

The most commonly used detergent in membrane protein crystallization, Dodecyl Maltoside (DDM), has also been used in the Cryo-EM structures of a number proteins. DDM is also often used as a mixture with Cholesteryl Hemisuccinate (CHS).

Lipid nanodiscs allow for the reconstitution of a detergent solubilized membrane protein into a lipid environment, and are being increasingly used in Cryo-EM. Anatrace offers a full selection of the lipids commonly used in nanodisc reconstitution.

Developed by Emily Cardew and Ehmke Pohl at the University of Durham, The Durham pH Screen and the Durham Salt Screen provide greater depth of analysis of the effect of individual buffers, pH, and salts.

Developed by Stephane Boivin and Rob Meijers at EMBL Hamburg, the RUBIC Buffer Screen provides 96 unique buffer formulations, while the RUBIC Additive Screen analyzes the effect on stability of common additives.

Fluorinated Fos-Choline-8 has been used to improve the vitrification of a number of membrane protein structures including the CFTR, and TRPV5. The typical concentration used is 3 mM.

Fluorinated Octyl Maltoside has been used to improve the vitrification of a number of membrane protein structures including TcdA1 and RyR1. The typical concentration used is 0.01% - 0.2%.

Our storage system allows you to easily track your grid-boxes for storage and shipping. Each grid-box is uniquely located by chamber number and puck identifier. Researchers and microscope users can quickly and reliably identify samples of interest.

This new grid-box from Swissci has been developed in collaboration with Dr Jan Löwe at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Backed by years of experience in Cryo-EM, it includes many improvements on current models.

Molecular Dimensions offers a full range of Dry Shippers, Cryogenic Refrigerators, and Cryo Tools for the safe storage and transfer of Cryo-EM Pucks.
 

Protochips C-Flat is an ultra-flat carbon support grid, optimized for Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM). Create 3D constructions with ease: just choose the best grid for your research and with C-Flat ultra-flat grids you’re ready to collect data immediately – no pre-washing.