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CryoEM

Last updated: 2025.01.14.

About the use of cryo-electron microscopy


KEK Cryo-EM Facility operates two cryo-electron microscopes, a 300 kV Titan Krios G4 and a 200 kV Talos Arctica G2 (Falcon 4), both manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific. The facility has three primary missions:
 1. Providing machine time to academic and industrial users for more than 200 days a year
 2. Assisting with grid freezing, data collection, and, if necessary, single-particle analysis
 3. Supporting the adoption of cryo-EM techniques

Academic users can access KEK cryo-EM through BINDS.
Applications for KEK cryo-EM BINDS projects are always welcome. Please apply here.
Example of a KEK cryo-EM BINDS project application.
KEK-Talos Initial Training Manual for External Users (ver.33) (*Latest version!)
(ver.32) (ver.31) (ver.30) (ver.29) (ver.28) (ver.27) (ver.26) (ver.25) (ver.20)
KEK-Titan Initial Training Manual for External Users (ver.3) (*Draft version!)
English version of KEK-Titan Initial Training Manual for External Users (ver.3) (*Draft  version!)
Tsukuba University-CRYOARM300II Initial Training Manual for External Users (ver.1) (*Draft version!)

Feature article on the KEK Cryo-EM Facility published in Journal of Crystallographic Society of Japan. (*Includes user guidelines and grid preparation tips!)。


Fee Schedule


Titan Usage Fees

Academia:

Equipment Use 3,000 yen/hour* (Minimum usage: 9 or 24 hours/day)

Data Acquisition and Analysis Support: Free

Company:

Equipment Use 15,000 yen/hour (Minimum usage: 24 hours/day)

Data Acquisition and Analysis Support 30,000 yen/hour (Minimum usage: 8 hours/day)


Talos Usage Fees

Academia:

Equipment Use 2,000 yen/hour* (Minimum usage: 9 or 24 hours/day)

Data Acquisition and Analysis Support: Free

Company:

Equipment Use 10,000 yen/hour (Minimum usage: 24 hours/day)

Data Acquisition and Analysis Support 30,000 yen/hour (Minimum usage: 8 hours/day)


*The fee covers the actual cost of consumables (grids, C-clips, C-clip rings, filter paper, liquid nitrogen, HDDs, etc.).

**For corporate users, in addition to the above one-time facility usage , other options exist, such as academic guidance contracts and joint research contracts (membership in the Cryo-EM Consortium is also available). For details, please contact Mr. Kubota (michio.kubota@kek.jp).


Cryo-EM Usage Policy

Regulations for the Use of Cryo-Electron Microscopes

KEK Cryo-EM Consortium Regulations
KEK Cryo-EM Consortium Bylaws

Documents to be submitted for measurement

Please note that membership in the Cryo-EM Consortium is required for measurements.

KEK Cryo-EM Consortium Regulations

Application Form (Word)


Required Documents for Measurement (Application Form (Please submit at least 10 days prior to the scheduled use date.)

Facility Usage Application Form (for Academic Institutions)

Facility Usage Application Form (for Companies)


Notification of Use of Genetically Modified Organisms

Notification of Use of Genetically Modified Organisms


Usage Report (Please submit promptly after use.)

Facility Usage Time Report (for Academic Institutions)

Facility Usage Time Report (for Companies: Optional)