Direct observation of biological molecules in liquid by environmental phase-plate transmission electron microscopy

We have been developing a combination method for environmental TEM (E-TEM) and phase-plate TEM (P-TEM) that enables direct observations of the structure of biological molecules in aqueous solution. It is clearly demonstrated that the biological molecules in a water layer can be imaged by the combined method without any stain. The spatial resolution obtained in the present study was about 10 nm. This should be improved by using energy filtering. The image contrast of the specimen in water was reduced in comparison with that in vacuum. A model calculation that includes the effects of beam broadening, intensity decrease, and background increase caused by scattering from the water layer around the specimen shows that an increase in the thickness of the water layer reduces the contrast, intensity, and resolution of the image.

► We developed a combination method for environmental TEM and phase-plate TEM. ► The direct observation of bio-molecules in water was succeeded by the combination method. ► The spatial resolution of the phase object in the present study was about 10 nm.