The revolutionary sample support that will improve every image.
HexAuFoil sample supports consist of a holey gold foil on a hexagonal gold mesh grid. The grid hexagons are approximately 50 μm in size with ~10-12 μm diameter bars. The gold foil has 290 nm diameter holes arranged in a hexagonal array with 310 nm spacing, resulting in a 600 nm repeat.
- Reduces particle motion to sub-Ångstrom levels.
- Unique high-density, hexagonal design with 0.3 μm ultra-small holes.
- Delivers fewer, faster data collections.
- Provides consistent, thin ice across the grid.
Over the last decade, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has undergone a “resolution revolution” and become a significant source of high-quality 3D-structural information for the biological community. In fact, for some important drug targets, such as GPCRs and channels, it has become the primary source of near-atomic resolution macromolecular structural data. The resulting increasing use of cryo-EM in drug discovery and mechanistic studies has driven a demand for ever higher quality and higher resolution data.
One continuing major source of information loss, and therefore map quality reduction, is particle movement during imaging. While data processing can reduce the effect of this issue, novel sample preparation techniques are required to eliminate it. HexAuFoil ultra-small hole gold supports reduce particle movement to sub-Ångstrom levels: the grids small hole size provides extra support to the thin ice layer that supports biological specimens and thus reduces or eliminates ice buckling caused by the stress of cryo-cooling.
The resultant improvement in particle localization enables maps to be extrapolated to zero electron loss, before radiation damage. At the same time as reducing particle movement, consideration has been given to increasing automated cryo-EM throughput at no cost to map quality with features such as maximal hole density.
Taken together, these developments mean that HexAuFoil sample supports will improve every image.
Fiducial Marks Aid with Orientation
The grids include a number of fiducial marks to aid with orientation. There are 2 fiducial marks on the rim of the grid which are visible by the naked eye. In addition, there are a further 6 on grid fiducial marks to aid with orientation. The largest on grid mark is free of foil to facilitate microscope alignments and flux measurements.
Handling
HexAuFoil sample supports should be handled in the same way as other gold films or traditional carbon foils, and are similarly robust. As with other foils, care should be taken when handling HexAuFoil sample supports with tweezers and during plunge freezing. If the foil is damaged in these processes, the stability of the support may be severely degraded. We recommend collecting data only from hexagons where the foil is uniform and intact.