This book presents the newest technology in electron microscopy. It comprises two major areas of electron microscopy - transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The volume provides clear, concise instructions on processing biological specimens and includes discussion on the underlying principles of the majority of the processes presented. A notes section enables efficient adaptation and troubleshooting of protocols.

Electron Microscopy Methods and Protocols is designed for the established researcher as a manual for extending knowledge of the field. It is also for the newcomer who wishes to move into the field. A wide range of applications for the examination of cells, tissues, biological macromolecules, molecular structures, and their interactions are discussed. We have tried to gather together methods that we consider to be those most generally appli- ble to current research in both cell and molecular biology. Each chapter c- tains a set of related practical protocols with examples provided by experts who have first-hand knowledge of the techniques they describe. The individual chapters are grouped according to similarities in their specimen preparation and methodology. Methods are presented in detail, in a step-by-step fashion, using reproducible protocols the authors have personally checked. During the last decade, the scientific literature describing the use of colloidal gold as an immunocytochemical marker has increased at an ex- nential rate, and this trend is expected to continue. We have included a large number of variations on the immunogold labeling technique. In both the ne- tive staining and cryo chapters, authors emphasize the “immunological app- cations” in order to correlate as fully as possible with the emphasis on immunogold labeling in the other chapters. Electron Microscopy Methods and Protocols commences with the routine preparation of biological material for classical transmission electron microscopy involving tissue fixation, embedding, and sectioning (Chap. 1).

New edition of an introductory reference that covers all of the important aspects of electron microscopy from a biological perspective, including theory of scanning and transmission; specimen preparation; darkroom, digital imaging, and image analysis; laboratory safety; interpretation of images; and an atlas of ultrastructure. Generously illustrated with bandw line drawings and photographs. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Immunoelectron microscopy is a key technique that bridges the information gap between biochemistry, molecular biology, and ultrastructural studies placing macromolecular functions within a cellular context. In Immunoelectron Microscopy: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers combine the tools of the molecular biologist with those of the microscopist. From the molecular biology toolbox, this volume presents methods for antigen production by protein expression in bacterial cells, methods for epitope tagged protein expression in plant and animal cells allowing protein localization in the absence of protein specific antibodies as well as methods for the production of anti-peptide, monoclonal, and polyclonal antibodies. From the microscopy toolbox, sample preparation methods for cells, plant, and animal tissue are presented. Both cryo-methods, which have the advantage of retaining protein antigenicity at the expense of ultrastructural integrity, as well as chemical fixation methods that maintain structural integrity while sacrificing protein antigenicity have been included, with chapters examining various aspects of immunogold labeling. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and essential, Immunoelectron Microscopy: Methods and Protocols seeks to facilitate an increased understanding of structure function relationships.

Successful transmission electron microscopy in all of its manifestations depends on the quality of the specimens examined. Biological specimen preparation protocols have usually been more rigorous and time consuming than those in the physical sciences. For this reason, there has been a wealth of scienti?c literature detailing speci?c preparation steps and numerous excellent books on the preparation of b- logical thin specimens. This does not mean to imply that physical science specimen preparation is trivial. For the most part, most physical science thin specimen pre- ration protocols can be executed in a matter of a few hours using straightforward steps. Over the years, there has been a steady stream of papers written on various aspects of preparing thin specimens from bulk materials. However, aside from s- eral seminal textbooks and a series of book compilations produced by the Material Research Society in the 1990s, no recent comprehensive books on thin spe- men preparation have appeared until this present work, ?rst in French and now in English. Everyone knows that the data needed to solve a problem quickly are more imp- tant than ever. A modern TEM laboratory with supporting SEMs, light microscopes, analytical spectrometers, computers, and specimen preparation equipment is an investment of several million US dollars. Fifty years ago, electropolishing, chemical polishing, and replication methods were the principal specimen preparation me- ods.

A diverse collection of state-of-the-art methods for the microscopic imaging of cells and molecules. The authors cover a wide spectrum of complimentary techniques, including such methods as fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and laser scanning cytometry. Additional readily reproducible protocols on confocal scanning laser microscopy, quantitative computer-assisted image analysis, laser-capture microdissection, microarray image scanning, near-field scanning optical microscopy, and reflection contrast microscopy round out this eclectic collection of cutting-edge imaging techniques now available. The authors also discuss preparative methods for particles and cells by transmission electron microscopy.

For more than a century, microscopy has been a centerpiece of extraordinary discoveries in biology. Along the way, remarkable imaging tools have been developed allowing scientists to dissect the complexity of cellular processes at the nano length molecular scales. Nanoimaging: Methods and Protocols presents a diverse collection of microscopy techniques and methodologies that provides guidance to successfully image cellular molecular complexes at nanometer spatial resolution. The book's four parts cover: (1) light microscopy techniques with a special emphasis on methods that go beyond the classic diffraction-limited imaging; (2) electron microscopy techniques for high-resolution imaging of molecules, cells and tissues, in both two and three dimensions; (3) scanning probe microscopy techniques for imaging and probing macromolecular complexes and membrane surface topography; and (4) complementary techniques on correlative microscopy, soft x-ray tomography and secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging. Written in the successful format of the Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and accessible, Nanoimaging: Methods and Protocols highlights many of the most exciting possibilities in microscopy for the investigation of biological structures at the nano length molecular scales.