Charge accumulation in electron cryomicroscopy.

ABSTRACT: When irradiated in a transmission electron microscope, plunge-frozen, amorphous water ice specimens accumulate a pattern of static charge that changes dynamically as the specimen is irradiated, and which can deflect the transmitted electrons and blur the resultant micrographs. Here we provide a physical description of this charge accumulation and characterise its dynamic behaviour in the context of low-dose electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM). We observe the accumulation of positive charge in the primary irradiation area as expected from earlier work. To our surprise, we also observed a build-up of negative charge in nearby unirradiated regions of the specimen. Using a standard carbon support foil containing a pure water ice specimen, we collect a portion of this negative charge in the microm

SUBMITTER: Russo CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5862658 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature