CRYOGENIC ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Scientists use cryo-electron microscopy to unravel how ‘guardian’ of the genome works.

Concept :

Cryo-electron microscopy

Cryo-electron microscopy is a specific type of electron microscopy that is based on the principle of forming a 3D image by collection and combination of thousands of projections of bio-molecules.
With the help of this, the researchers can now visualize the processes never seen before by freezing the mid-movement of the bio-molecules.
Cryo-electron microscopy makes it possible to freeze the bio-molecules at the cryogenic temperature ie, at -150°C, preserving their natural shape. By this, the structure of molecules is revealed in exquisite detail.
It is significant for better understanding of basic Chemistry and for the development of pharmaceuticals as it simplifies and improves the imaging of bio-molecules.
It facilitates the study of fine viruses, protein complexes and cellular structures at a molecular resolution as it gives the scientists an opportunity to have a look at the machinery of life in a 3D form.
The earlier forms of electron microscopes made it impossible to study the bio-molecules in 3D form as the powerful beams often destroyed the biological matter.
The resolution now has improved from shapeless blobs to imaging the proteins at atomic resolution. The Cryo-Electron Microscopy has broken several limitations, moving biochemistry into a new Era.