Experience Report on the 3D-EM Course "Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Vitreous Sections (CEMOVIS)"

11.06.-15.06.2007, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany,

Course leader: Dr. Andrew Leis

The 3D-EM CEMOVIS course was held at the Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried between the 11th and 15th June 2007. CEMOVIS (Cryoelectron Microscopy of Vitreous Sections) involves preparing high-pressure frozen cryo-sections of material to be analysed by electron microscopy. The advantage of CEMOVIS over other ultramicrotomy techniques is that it preserves samples in a native-frozen state, and avoids the use of fixatives and stains. This allows higher resolution to be obtained, at the expense of increased sensitivity to beam damage and greater difficulty in preparing and manipulating samples.

The course was divided between lectures and practical sessions. The range of lectures was excellent, including theoretical talks from some of the most experienced in the field and highly relevant practical talks from the manufacturers of diamond knives and ultramicrotomes. The lectures were extremely informative and well selected.

A large amount of the time was devoted to hands-on sessions. Due to the technical difficulty of CEMOVIS a lot of time at the cryoultramicrotomes is needed. The major problem here was a shortage of ultramicrotomes relative to the number of course participants. The practical instructors were well-experienced at the technique and patient teachers. It was advantageous to be exposed to a range of different ultramicrotome set-ups, as many of the course participants will be setting up the technique in their own labs.

The remainder of the time was spent eating and drinking in the ‘Jagdschoss’ and Munich beer gardens. It was great that so many of the instructors and max-planck students came along and joined the course participants in the evenings.

Overall, this was an informative and enjoyable course and I look forward to using CEMOVIS in our laboratory.


    Jeanne Salje
    Division of Structural Studies
    MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
    Hills Road
    Cambridge CB2 0QH
    UK


More pictures of this course you will find here.