Phase contrast electron microscopy: development of thin-film phase plates and biological applications

摘要: Phase contrast transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on thin-film phase plates has been developed and applied to biological systems. Currently, development is focused two techniques that employ different types of plates. The first technique uses a Zernike plate, which made uniform amorphous carbon film completely covers the aperture an objective lens can retard waves by π/2, except at centre where tiny hole drilled. other Hilbert twice as thick only half retards wave π. By combining power efficient detection with accurate preservation achieved cryotechnique such vitrification, macromolecular complexes supermolecular structures inside intact bacterial or eukaryotic cells may be visualized without staining. cryo-TEM potential bridge gap between cellular molecular biology in terms high-resolution visualization. Examples using proteins, viruses, cyanobacteria somatic are provided.