Electron Microscopy Core Facility

National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke

Investigators

Abstract

The Electron Microscopy Core Facility (EMF) consults with NINDS intramural researchers to assess if their goals are achievable by transmission electron microscopy. EMF staff provide expert guidance on which EM approach will best meet their needs and assist with project design. EMF staff provide technical support for sample fixation, immunogold localization (if needed), tissue staining, embedding, ultra-thin sectioning, image collection, image interpretation and microscope training. In FY2025, the EMF assisted ten principal investigators and interacted with over 25 staff members, resulting in five publications. 1. Dosemeci A, Tao-Cheng JH: Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane. Mol Brain 2025, 18:47. (The EMF Director (JH Tao-Cheng) collaborated on this project, and the EMF provided technical support including sample processing, embedding, ultra-thin sectioning, data collection and image interpretation.) 2. Greene G, Pothayee N, Jahanipour J, Jie H, Tao-Cheng JH, Petrus E, Maric D, Koretsky AP: Age-dependent integration of cortical progenitors transplanted at CSF-neurogenic niche interface. Front Cell Dev Biol 2025, 13:1577045. (The EMF Director (JH Tao-Cheng) collaborated on this project, and the EMF provided consultation, sample processing, embedding, ultra-thin sectioning and data collection on the electron microscope.) 3. Lin HP, Petersen JD, Gilsrud AJ, Madruga A, D'Silva TM, Huang X, Shammas MK, Randolph NP, Johnson KR, Li Y, et al: DELE1 maintains muscle proteostasis to promote growth and survival in mitochondrial myopathy. EMBO J 2024, 43:5548-5585. (The EMF provided consultation, sample processing and embedding.) 4. Liu L, Tao-Cheng JH, Rallapalli H, Dodd S, Bouraoud N, Koretsky AP: High iron in mouse olfactory ensheathing cells at the glia limitans in the olfactory bulb underlies MRI T (2) * hypointensity. Imaging Neurosci (Camb) 2024, 2. (The EMF Director (JH Tao-Cheng) collaborated on this project, and the EMF provided processing, sectioning and help with image interpretation.) 5. Thayer JA, Petersen JD, Huang X, Hawrot J, Ramos DM, Sekine S, Li Y, Ward ME, Narendra DP: Novel reporter of the PINK1-Parkin mitophagy pathway identifies its damage sensor in the import gate. bioRxiv 2025. (The EMF provided microscope use.) In addition to these publications, users of the EMF also presented talks in scientific meetings and seminars with data generated at the EMF. The Director of the EMF published two manuscripts 1. Tao-Cheng JH: Ultrastructural characterization of peri-synaptic astrocytic processes around cerebellar Purkinje spines under resting and stimulated conditions. Mol Brain 2025, 18:28. 2. Tao-Cheng JH, Moreira SL, Winters CA: Ultrastructural characterization of hippocampal inhibitory synapses under resting and stimulated conditions. Mol Brain 2024, 17:76.