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CryoFluorSEM – A new approach for fluorescence and EM imaging of cryofractured plant samples

Wightman, Raymond ; Evans, Gareth ; Gurzadyan, Aram ; Ahluwalia, Ankiit ; Miao, Siyu ; Jonsson, Henrik LU and Schiessl, Katharina (2026) In Journal of Microscopy
Abstract

Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (CryoSEM) permits the preparation and detailed imaging of bulky samples while keeping them in a hydrated state. For plant biology, cryofractures give information on cell ultrastructure and tissue organisation within a much larger context that is the whole organ or organism. To date, a method to locate fluorescence reporters on the cryofracture has not been reported. Our approach uses a stereofluorescence microscope with an 80 mm working distance and a high-zoom ratio to image the fracture through a viewing port of the cryopreparation chamber while the sample is still frozen and under vacuum. We have applied this method to look at fluorescent reporters of auxin transport and signalling in plant shoot... (More)

Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (CryoSEM) permits the preparation and detailed imaging of bulky samples while keeping them in a hydrated state. For plant biology, cryofractures give information on cell ultrastructure and tissue organisation within a much larger context that is the whole organ or organism. To date, a method to locate fluorescence reporters on the cryofracture has not been reported. Our approach uses a stereofluorescence microscope with an 80 mm working distance and a high-zoom ratio to image the fracture through a viewing port of the cryopreparation chamber while the sample is still frozen and under vacuum. We have applied this method to look at fluorescent reporters of auxin transport and signalling in plant shoot apices and seedlings, the expression of a poorly characterised gene in the young floral pedicel and nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria, expressing GFP, in root nodules. This method is applicable to any cryopreserved bulky sample that has a fluorescent output and paves the way for correlative light-electron microscopy for cryoSEM-based imaging.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
auxin, cryo-scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, hypocotyl, nitrogen-fixing root nodules, pedicel, plant shoot apex
in
Journal of Microscopy
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:41806303
  • scopus:105032479631
ISSN
0022-2720
DOI
10.1111/jmi.70076
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f1519987-cb1b-4817-a5fc-779f36cfc7f5
date added to LUP
2026-04-23 15:04:21
date last changed
2026-09-12 08:00:07
@article{f1519987-cb1b-4817-a5fc-779f36cfc7f5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (CryoSEM) permits the preparation and detailed imaging of bulky samples while keeping them in a hydrated state. For plant biology, cryofractures give information on cell ultrastructure and tissue organisation within a much larger context that is the whole organ or organism. To date, a method to locate fluorescence reporters on the cryofracture has not been reported. Our approach uses a stereofluorescence microscope with an 80 mm working distance and a high-zoom ratio to image the fracture through a viewing port of the cryopreparation chamber while the sample is still frozen and under vacuum. We have applied this method to look at fluorescent reporters of auxin transport and signalling in plant shoot apices and seedlings, the expression of a poorly characterised gene in the young floral pedicel and nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria, expressing GFP, in root nodules. This method is applicable to any cryopreserved bulky sample that has a fluorescent output and paves the way for correlative light-electron microscopy for cryoSEM-based imaging.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wightman, Raymond and Evans, Gareth and Gurzadyan, Aram and Ahluwalia, Ankiit and Miao, Siyu and Jonsson, Henrik and Schiessl, Katharina}},
  issn         = {{0022-2720}},
  keywords     = {{auxin; cryo-scanning electron microscopy; fluorescence microscopy; hypocotyl; nitrogen-fixing root nodules; pedicel; plant shoot apex}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Microscopy}},
  title        = {{CryoFluorSEM – A new approach for fluorescence and EM imaging of cryofractured plant samples}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jmi.70076}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/jmi.70076}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}