Glacios Cryo-TEM

Glacios Cryo-TEM for Life Sciences

Sample optimization and high resolution data acquisition made easy.

The new Thermo Scientific Glacios Cryo Transmission Electron Microscope (Cryo-TEM) delivers a complete and affordable Cryo-EM solution to a broad range of scientists. It features 200 kV XFEG optics, the industry-leading Autoloader (cryogenic sample manipulation robot), and the same innovative automation for ease of use as on the Krios G4 Cryo-TEM. The Glacios Cryo-TEM bundles all this into a small footprint that simplifies installation.

The designed-in connectivity ensures a robust and contamination-free pathway throughout the entire workflow, from sample preparation and optimization to image acquisition and data processing. The Glacios Cryo-TEM can be used in a single particle analysis (SPA) workflow for pre-optimization of sample quality, as well as for high-resolution SPA data acquisition. Furthermore, the Glacios Cryo-TEM can also be configured with a Direct Electron Detector and/or Volta Phase Plate to be a complete standalone SPA data acquisition solution.

“The Glacios cryo-TEM has been a catalyst for our protein research in Halle, Germany. Due to its compact hardware architecture, we minimized our efforts for room renovations that are required to meet the environmental specifications essential for stable microscope performance. The optics of Glacios, in combination with the Falcon 3EC camera and the associated software, EPU, provides a fine platform for optimizing our samples. However, we have realized that the Glacios has a surprisingly high-end optical performance: In our recent work , we demonstrated that, using Glacios, we are capable of resolving protein structures at near-atomic resolution. It provides an affordable, integrated option for in-house high-resolution structural biology.”

Panagiotis L. Kastritis, PhD, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

"In our lab at the University of Washington, we are equipped with a couple of autoloader systems, Glacios and Krios. The Glacios is primarily used as a microscope for optimizing cryo-EM grids to identify the perfect grids for high-resolution data collection on the Krios. We are very happy with the performance of our Glacios and routinely obtain structures near 3Å resolution, which gives us a good indication of sample quality."

Justin Kollman, PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

* Selectris and Selectris X Imaging Filters

Designed for stability and speed, the Thermo Scientific Selectris and Selectris X Imaging Filters are post-column imaging filters that improve the contrast of TEM images, resulting in high-resolution structures up to atomic resolution. Paired with the latest generation Thermo Scientific Falcon 4 Direct Electron Detector, Selectris Filters enable you to obtain high-resolution structures quickly, revealing new biological insights. To further increase the productivity and ease-of-use of your cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) research, these filters are fully integrated into Thermo Scientific EPU Software, Thermo Scientific Tomography Software, and instrument operation software. The Selectris and Selectris X Imaging Filters are available on Thermo Scientific Krios and Glacios Cryo-TEMs.

Key features

Small footprint

The new hardware architecture of the Glacios has been specifically designed to address the need for a smaller footprint and easier access path. In many cases, this design avoids the additional investment and unwanted lab downtime for significant modifications to an existing infrastructure or the need for a purposely-built lab.

Enhanced ease of use through automation

The Glacios Cryo-TEM reduces the number of complex alignments that a user has to perform. For recurring alignments that need to be done regularly, automated alignment routines have been implemented into the EPU software for SPA. Furthermore, the EPU user interface has been further streamlined to provide comprehensive user guidance.

Reproducible, optimal tool performance always guaranteed

The optimal thermal and mechanical stability of the Glacios Cryo-TEM ensures perfect optical performance. The instrument features a self-assessment function that automatically evaluates the optical status of the microscope, providing feedback for any steps that require optimization. Additionally, automated alignment routines allow the instrument to be tuned to its optimal starting point for SPA or tomography experiments.

Maximum throughput

EPU is the native software package for automated sample assessment and acquisition of large data sets on the Thermo Fisher cryo-TEMs. With full control of the Autoloader from within EPU, all grids in a cassette can be assessed in batch: after the creation of a grid atlas, ice quality (presence, thickness) of the vitrified grids is automatically categorized to support guided selection of grid squares.

Workflow connectivity

For successful cryo-EM data acquisition, optimization of both biochemistry and vitrification requires an efficient optimization process. The Glacios Cryo-TEM is designed to be integrated in a SPA workflow – it can be used for sample evaluation and optimization, before high-resolution data acquisition. The data acquisition can occur directly on the Glacios Cryo-TEM, or in a Krios or Arctica Cryo-TEM – after sample transfer.

The Autoloader capsule and cassette systems ensure a robust and contamination-free transfer of samples between Glacios, Arcita and Krios Cryo-TEMs, without the need for manipulation of individual small grids.

For more details: https://www.thermofisher.com/tr/en/home/electron-microscopy/products/transmission-electron-microscopes/glacios-cryo-tem.html