Understanding the Terminology
CryoEM (Cryo-Electron Microscopy) is the broad umbrella term for any electron microscopy technique performed on samples at cryogenic temperatures (typically liquid nitrogen, −196°C). It encompasses several sub-techniques including Single Particle Analysis (SPA), Cryo-Electron Tomography (Cryo-ET/TOMO), and MicroED.
CryoTEM (Cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy) specifically refers to the transmission electron microscopy modality used at cryogenic temperatures. In practice, when structural biologists say "CryoTEM" they often mean the imaging technique itself — the way electrons pass through a vitrified sample to form an image.
When to Use Each Term
| Term | When to Use |
|---|---|
| CryoEM | Discussing the overall field, platform capabilities, or when referring to the Nobel Prize-winning technique broadly |
| CryoTEM | Referring specifically to the TEM imaging modality, or when distinguishing from cryo-SEM |
| SPA | When discussing single particle analysis specifically |
| TOMO / Cryo-ET | When discussing tomography specifically |
Which Technique Do You Need?
Choose SPA (Single Particle Analysis) if:
- You have a purified, homogeneous protein sample
- You want the highest possible resolution (sub-2Å achievable)
- Your protein is >50 kDa (though smaller proteins are increasingly feasible)
- You need a drug-target structure for SBDD or AIDD
Choose TOMO (Cryo-Electron Tomography) if:
- You want to see structures in their native cellular context (in situ)
- Your target is pleomorphic or heterogeneous
- You're studying cellular organelles, virus-host interactions, or membrane architecture
- Resolution in the 20-50Å range is acceptable
Choose MicroED if:
- You have microcrystals of a small molecule or drug compound
- You need sub-angstrom resolution for drug chemistry
- Your compound is difficult to crystallize for X-ray diffraction
Shuimu's Capabilities
At Shuimu Biosciences (水木未来), we operate 8 state-of-the-art 300kV cryo-EMs covering all three modalities:
- SPA: 2000+ projects completed, resolutions down to 1.4Å
- TOMO: Full cryo-ET pipeline with FIB-SEM lamella preparation
- MicroED: Sub-angstrom small molecule structures
Whether you call it CryoEM or CryoTEM, our platform delivers world-class results. Contact us to discuss your project.