Electron Cryo-Microscopy Core Facility

Overview

The Cryo-EM (cryogenic electron microscopy) Core Facility at UTHealth is a state-of-the-art resource in the heart of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Operated under the umbrella the Office of Research at UTHealth, the facility was established to serve the growing needs of researchers across the Houston area and nationwide who do not have adequate access to the latest cryo-EM instrumentation and expertise. Recent advances in cryo-EM technology have transformed structural biology by enabling high-resolution imaging of biological macromolecules that are often inaccessible by traditional methods such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. These breakthroughs have drawn a rapidly expanding community of investigators focused on understanding the molecular underpinnings of human disease.

The mission of the UTHealth Cryo-EM Core Facility is to provide broad access to cutting-edge cryo-EM technology and expert support for investigators from diverse scientific backgrounds. The facility enables the structural analysis of a wide range of complex biological systems – from individual proteins and macromolecular assemblies to organelles and intact cells – that are otherwise difficult to characterize using conventional structural approaches.

The facility is equipped with high-end electron cryo-microscopes and a full suite of ancillary instruments for cryo-specimen preparation. It supports atomic-resolution imaging through single-particle analysis (SPA cryo-EM) and three-dimensional cellular ultrastructure studies using electron cryo-tomography (cryo-ET).

We offer a variety of service packages tailored to users of all experience levels – from novice to expert – covering the full cryo-EM workflow. These services include cryo-specimen optimization, grid preparation and screening, and high-resolution cryo-EM/cryo-ET data collection. The facility is housed in a custom-designed microscopy suite in the McGovern Medical School Building, providing an ideal environment for cutting-edge structural research.

Instrumentation:

  • Titan Krios G3 (300 KeV X-FEG, ThermoFisher Scientific) cryo-TEM equipped with
    • BioQuantum Energy Filter with K2 Summit direct detector
    • Volta Phase Plate
    • 12-position cryo-sample autoloader
    • Automated data collection through EPU, Tomo and SerialEM
  • TFS Glacios F30 (200 keV X-FEG, ThermoFisher Scientific) cryo-TEM equipped with
    • Falcon 4i
    • Selectris Energy Filter
    • 12-position cryo-sample autoloader
    • MicroED
    • Automated data collection through EPU, Tomo and SerialEM
  • Ancillary equipment for cryospecimen preparation
    • FEI Vitrobot (Mark IV)
    • Leica EMGP
    • Manual plungers
    • Glow Discharging
    • Carbon Coating

Acknowledging Cryo-EM Core

Any use of the resources at UTHealth Cryo-EM Core Facility requires acknowledgement of the resources in publications and presentations.

Cancer-related work taking place on the Titan Krios at subsidized rates has to acknowledge CPRIT Core Facility Grant RP190602.

Any work taking place on the Glacios has to acknowledge NIH S10ODO32204 grant. 

Example: Cryo-EM work (or Some of this cryo-EM work) was performed at the Cryo-EM Core Facility supported by the UTHealth Structural Biology Imaging Center at Houston and by grant from the NIH Office of the Director (1S10OD032204).  Titan Krios G3 subsidized by CPRIT Core Facility Award RP190602 was used for cryo-EM data acquisition in this work.

Getting Started

For more information regarding how to apply for microscope usage click here.

Leadership

Irina Serysheva, Ph.D. | Core Facility Faculty Director
713-500-5523

Guizhen Fan, Ph.D. | Cryo-EM Specialist
713-500-6232

Mariah Baker, Ph.D. | Cryo-EM Specialist
713-500-6232

Venkata Mallampalli | Technical Manager/Senior Research Associate
713-500-6052

Mehdi Zarei | Research Associate