Applications Cell Biology

3D Electron Microscopy Research Projects

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Summaries of in-house research projects using electron tomography and cryo electron microscopy to study the invaginations in the mitochondrial inner membrane, functional states of the ryanodine receptor (RyR), the interaction between the ribosome and its ligands and kinetochore modulation of microtubule dynamics. An extensive list of publications is included in the site.
Source:  Wadsworth Center

Disease Carriers: Explore the Microscopic World of Health Science

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Transmission electron microscope images of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa disease carriers.
Source:  Wadsworth Center

Intracellular Aspects of the Process of Protein Secretion

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George E. Palade – Nobel Lecture, December 12, 1974
Source: The Nobel Foundation 

Cell Centered Database

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The Cell Centered Database (CCDB) is a web accessible database for high resolution 2D, 3D and 4D data from light and electron microscopy, including correlated imaging.

George E. Palade EM Slide Collection

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The George Pallade collection includes early electron micrographs from Rockefeller University and Yale University. Many of the images are significant for their contribution to our understanding of cellular structure and processes. The images were used in the cell biology courses at Yale University by Drs. George Palade and Marilyn Farquhar. It was Dr. Palade's wish that the collection of images be freely available to students and scientists world-wide.
Source: Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library 

A study of tissue culture cells by electron microscopy: Methods and preliminary observations.

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The first electron microscope image of an intact cell at a magnification of 1600x. The image reveals mitochondria, the Golgi apparatus and a "lace-like reticulum" which was later named the "endoplasmic reticulum" by Keith Porter. The work was a collaboration between Albert Claude and Keith Porter from the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research and Earnest Fullam of the Interchemical Corporation. the original publication is available in online.
Source: Bio-Imaging Resource Center Rockefeller University

Vocabulary of Microscopic Anatomy

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The vocabulary of microscopic anatomy includes explainations and images of over 250 microscopical anatomical terms. It is linked to a large collection of electron micrographs of cells and tissue. The images are only available for viewing online.
Source: Imaging Center Essen Universität Duisburg Essen

George E. Palade: Legacy of a Distinguished Scientist:

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In the early 1950s, Palade’s utilization of the then new technologies, such as electron microscopy and ultracentrifugation,brought understanding of the cell to a new level.

George E. Palade The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974 Autobiography

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This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and later published in the book series Les Prix Nobel/Nobel Lectures.
Source: The Nobel Foundation 

From Intracellular Morphology to Function: The Secretory Pathway

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Working in Albert Claude research group at Rockefeller University, George Palade developed the sucrose method for cell fractionation which isolated organelles without distorting their shapes. By using osmium tetroxide better contrast was obtained in electron microscopy and Palade was able to describe the fine structure of mitochondria. This summary of Palade's work at Rockefeller University include a link references to journal articles.
Source: Bio-Imaging Resource Center Rockefeller University

Cell Fractionation, Biochemistry, and Electron Microscopy: The Birth of Modern Cell Biology

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Albert Claude pioneered techniques of cell fractionation and was the first to use an electron microscopes to study cells. This first image of an intact cell, a collaboration with Keith Portor and Ernest Fullam, was termed it the "birth certificate" of the field of cell biology by George Palade. This summary of his work at Rockefeller University includes links to selected publications.
Source: Bio-Imaging Resource Center Rockefeller University

Advances in high-resolution imaging – techniques for three-dimensional imaging of cellular structures

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This 2012 commentary provides an excellent overview of microscopic techniques used in the 3D imaging of cellular structures. Advances in electron microscopy tomography and fluorescence super-resolution techniques including STED, Single-molecule-localization-based super-resolution, Plane illumination microscopy, and Structured illumination microscopy are reviewed. There is an insightful comparison of super resolution techniques to confocal microscopy in terms of difficulty of preparation, processing and live cell.
Source: Super-Resolution Technology Core University of New Mexico