Abstract
Lamella micromachining by focused ion beam milling at cryogenic temperature (cryo-FIB) has matured into a preparation method widely used for cellular cryo-electron tomography. Due to the limited ablation rates of low Ga+ ion beam currents required to maintain the structural integrity of vitreous specimens, common preparation protocols are time-consuming and labor intensive. The improved stability of new-generation cryo-FIB instruments now enables automated operations. Here, we present an open-source software tool, SerialFIB, for creating automated and customizable cryo-FIB preparation protocols. The software encompasses a graphical user interface for easy execution of routine lamellae preparations, a scripting module compatible with available Python packages, and interfaces with three-dimensional correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) tools. SerialFIB enables the streamlining of advanced cryo-FIB protocols such as multi-modal imaging, CLEM-guided lamella preparation and in situ lamella lift-out procedures. Our software therefore provides a foundation for further development of advanced cryogenic imaging and sample preparation protocols.
Authors
12
- Sven Klumpe (first)
- Herman KH Fung (first)
- Sara K Goetz (first)
- Ievgeniia Zagoriy (additional)
- Bernhard Hampoelz (additional)
- Xiaojie Zhang (additional)
- Philipp S Erdmann (additional)
- Janina Baumbach (additional)
- Christoph W Müller (additional)
- Martin Beck (additional)
- Jürgen M Plitzko (additional)
- Julia Mahamid (additional)
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Dates
Type | When |
---|---|
Created | 3 years, 7 months ago (Dec. 24, 2021, 8 a.m.) |
Deposited | 1 year, 10 months ago (Oct. 11, 2023, 9:19 p.m.) |
Indexed | 12 hours, 2 minutes ago (Aug. 20, 2025, 9:15 a.m.) |
Issued | 3 years, 7 months ago (Dec. 24, 2021) |
Published | 3 years, 7 months ago (Dec. 24, 2021) |
Published Online | 3 years, 7 months ago (Dec. 24, 2021) |
Funders
5
European Research Council
10.13039/501100000781
Region: Europe
gov (National government)
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- 760067
European Research Council
10.13039/501100000781
Region: Europe
gov (National government)
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- ERC
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- 871037
European Molecular Biology Laboratory
10.13039/100013060
Region: Europe
gov (Research institutes and centers)
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- EMBL Heidelberg
- EMBL
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- Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Program COFUND 664726
Max Planck Institute Magdeburg
10.13039/501100012319
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems MagdeburgRegion: Europe
pri (Research institutes and centers)
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- Max Planck Institute Magdeburg
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems
- Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik komplexer technischer Systeme Magdeburg
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
10.13039/100018694
HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie ActionsRegion: Europe
gov (National government)
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- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
- Horizon Europe - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
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- HORIZON EUROPE Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- MSCA
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- Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Program COFUND 664726
@article{Klumpe_2021, title={A modular platform for automated cryo-FIB workflows}, volume={10}, ISSN={2050-084X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/elife.70506}, DOI={10.7554/elife.70506}, journal={eLife}, publisher={eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd}, author={Klumpe, Sven and Fung, Herman KH and Goetz, Sara K and Zagoriy, Ievgeniia and Hampoelz, Bernhard and Zhang, Xiaojie and Erdmann, Philipp S and Baumbach, Janina and Müller, Christoph W and Beck, Martin and Plitzko, Jürgen M and Mahamid, Julia}, year={2021}, month=dec }