[3dem] [External] Advice for grid storage for a new lab

Fri Jul 7 04:46:04 PDT 2023

Hello,

I have used both puck systems from Mitegen and SubAngstrom. I have a slight preference for the Mitegen system (I like the integrated lid that is impossible to close the wrong way), but overall this is not difficult to use. Both systems can even cohabitate in the same storage dewar, so you could choose whichever system you prefer for the facility and still leave the option for groups that can afford it to have their own cane and pucks from the other brand.

Organization mostly depends on people and how disciplined they can be, not on the storage system, but some storage systems at least encourage good practices. Numbered grid boxes in numbered pucks can still be a mess if users are not organized, but at least you have an unambiguous way to identify each grid box (I have been at places with manually labeled boxes in manually labeled falcon tubes, and you inevitably have to deal with not only different handwritings but also different conventions in naming things).

For shipping grids, I would always trust a puck more than a falcon tube. The falcon tube can move into the dry shipper, and the grid boxes can move into the tube, so vibrations during transport could mess with your grids much more than when everything is tightly held in a puck.
If you are going to ship and need a puck system for this, you might as well also use it for storing grids locally.

I hope this helps,

Guillaume

On 5 Jul 2023, at 18:05, Jaime Llodra <jaimellodra at gmail.com<mailto:jaimellodra at gmail.com>> wrote:

Dear All,

This is a controversial topic.
I am positive some researchers told me pucks are expensive and difficult to work with. They have managed to use very organized string/falcon systems where there are no tangles and samples are easy to find and recover.

Good luck,
Jaime Llodrá

On Wed, Jul 5, 2023 at 4:39 PM Morgan, David Gene <dagmorga at indiana.edu<mailto:dagmorga at indiana.edu>> wrote:
Abris,

We are in the process of converting from "Falcon tubes on strings" to one of the puck systems.  There are definitely higher costs associated with the pucks, but our experience so far suggests that they are worth it.  We can store more grids more easily and never worry about losing a tube because a string breaks or gets cut.  You will need to think about "bookkeeping" but is true for any storage system.

I had initially wondered about ice contamination from taking a rack of pucks out of the storage dewar every time I dealt with any of the grids, but at least so far, I don't think I see that happening.  Others who have used similar systems longer may be able to comment on this.

--
    politics is more difficult than physics.
                                             A. Einstein

            David Gene Morgan
        Electron Microscopy Center
             047E Simon Hall
             IU Bloomington
          812 856 1457 (office)
          812 856 3221 (3200)
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From: 3dem <3dem-bounces at ncmir.ucsd.edu<mailto:3dem-bounces at ncmir.ucsd.edu>> on behalf of Abris Bendes <Abris.Bendes at abo.fi<mailto:Abris.Bendes at abo.fi>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 5, 2023 6:30 AM
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Subject: [External] [3dem] Advice for grid storage for a new lab

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Dear all,

We are setting up a cryoEM sample preparation lab (mostly for SPA) from scratch, and still missing some smaller equipment and consumables. I would like to ask for your input on what is regarded as best practices for a smaller starting-out lab. What is currently the best option for boxes and storage of non-clipped grids? I have seen the emergence of twist-top grid boxes (eg from SWISSCI) and pucks (eg MiTeGen Gen 2), but have no experience with them. Any suggestions or other tips, not just for storage options, for a beginner lab would be most welcome.

Best regards,

Abris

_______________________________________________

Ábris Á. Bendes, PhD

InFLAMES Flagship postdoctoral researcher

Salminen lab / SBL / Åbo Akademi University

Jalkanen and Hollmén lab / MediCity / University of Turku

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