[3dem] CryoEM Grid Boxes

[Kenneth Goldie]

Greetings,



Regarding  grid boxes, I prefer the "original" clockwise numbering system. We find our researchers tend to adopt the convention that their lab has taught them so it really is personal preference but sometimes makes for lots of confusion if someone else is loading your grids for you. I see Rubens previous point for lids that are fitted with screws but I greatly prefer lid types as supplied by Thermo Fisher Scientific for their Autogrid (clipped) boxes. Those lids are quickly, totally removable which makes grid loading and removal from boxes faster as unlike the fitted lids you do not have to rotate each time to pick out a grid. Less parts and less chance also of breaking the grid box base or nylon screw used with some rotating lid boxes. We often do not use the Thermo Fisher lid gripper tool or more inexpensive pen equivalent but cut 1-2 cm from suitably sized plastic lab tubing that you can push onto the tapered "pin" on the lid. We have loads around the lab and you can make many very quickly and give out to researchers. Before storing in Falcon tubes or pucks you can either leave the tubing on, or to save space, remove the tubing from the lid.



White or clear bases and lids preferred. We traditionally use felt tip pens for labelling grid boxes so this is an issue with some coloured boxes, particularly dark colours and black which also makes copper grids difficult to see under liquid N2.



With the increased production of samples and throughput It might be time for a total redesign of grid boxes (and frozen storage pucks)  to receive more grids and hopefully allow for automation of handling steps from the freezing steps right thorough to sample loading in the microscope. Better cataloging and identification of grids is also needed. Bar coding as some puck produces have adopted is a step in the right direction. A clipping robot would also be nice. :)



Best wishes, keep safe



Ken



Ken Goldie, PhD
Biozentrum, University of Basel
Mattenstrasse 26 | D-BSSE | WRO-1058 | CH-4058 Basel | Switzerland
Tel. +41-61-387 32 18






> On Fri, Apr 24, 2020 at 10:00 AM Michael Godfrin <mgodfrin at nanosoftmaterials.com <mailto:mgodfrin at nanosoftmaterials.com<mailto:mgodfrin at nanosoftmaterials.com%20%3cmailto:mgodfrin at nanosoftmaterials.com>>> wrote:

> Hello Everyone,

>

> We plan on offering CryoEM grid boxes in the coming months, both the "traditional" design for unclipped grids with the diamond shaped pockets, as well as the "newer" box style for autogrids.  We are finalizing designs and would like to incorporate any features that would be beneficial. There are a variety of opinions on the numbering convention for the grid boxes.  The "traditional" numbering convention seems to be clockwise, whereas newer autogrid boxes have the "reading" convention, though we've heard many people disregard that and refer to the positions in the traditional clockwise sense.

>

> We would love to hear feedback from the community in an effort to reach a consensus and perhaps a standard on how to number the grid boxes. For anyone that responds to this survey <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrdWhws85V-ld03o_4DhgtdRjyHKAm8XMggNO7xYJOAWMUwQ/viewform?usp=sf_link__;!!Mih3wA!Sc3pzHYpeLzdf01i3xWLUeiv4F000Go5-CW5_BG2A3FEqxi3oNEErCNeAvWUFL236Q$<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrdWhws85V-ld03o_4DhgtdRjyHKAm8XMggNO7xYJOAWMUwQ/viewform?usp=sf_link__;!!Mih3wA!Sc3pzHYpeLzdf01i3xWLUeiv4F000Go5-CW5_BG2A3FEqxi3oNEErCNeAvWUFL236Q$>>, we will give a 20% discount on their first purchase of grid boxes once we begin selling them.  We will also share the results with everyone here once we have them.

>

> Thank you and we hope that everyone is staying well, Mike

>

>

>

> Michael Godfrin, PhD

> President

>

> NanoSoft

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To: Michael Godfrin <mgodfrin at nanosoftmaterials.com<mailto:mgodfrin at nanosoftmaterials.com>>

Cc: 3DEM Mailing List <3dem at ncmir.ucsd.edu<mailto:3dem at ncmir.ucsd.edu>>

Subject: Re: [3dem] CryoEM Grid Boxes

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I really like the grid boxes with an X slot, so that I can put the grid on whichever orientation is more convenient for my hand. If anything, it would be nice to have them a little wider to accommodate autogrids. I prefer the numbering to be counter-clockwise, and the main reason for this is that when you have loosened the lid to insert the grids, moving it in the counter-clockwise direction does not tighten the screw, but rotating in a clockwise direction does  (it is super annoying to have a tight lid when you have a grid that needs to go into a slot). As for colors, I think white is nice, with a Philips/straight screw that is not super small, which can be opened with the posterior edge of some tweezers, cardboard, etc (as screwdrivers tend to walk away when most needed).



Ruben.



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