C-CINA

Center for Cell Imaging and Nano Analytics (C-CINA)

The Center for Cell Imaging and Nano Analytics (C-CINA) combines a wide range of microscopy equipment, methods and software tools to investigate biological specimens in three dimensions.

C-CINA is active in research into the structure of membrane protein systems and protein complexes, the development of methods for microscopy, and visual proteomics.

C-CINA examines biological specimens at various magnifications. Different types of light and electron microscope are used to produce three-dimensional images of proteins at different magnifications and from various aspects.

Combined use of different microscopes

Researchers in the C-CINA use the serial block face scanning electron microscope to determine the rough three-dimensional structure of biological tissues. They then examine individual cells from interesting areas of the specimen using high-resolution electron tomography. And, finally, the atomic structure of individual proteins in the cells can be reconstructed.

The microscopes function at different magnifications, ranging from hundreds of micrometers to less than a fraction of a nanometer. The key element of C-CINA's equipment is the very high resolution microscope called "Titan". This machine is 4.5 meters high and operated exclusively by computerized remote control.

Computer image processing gives us insight into 3D

Two-dimensional images from the various microscopes are collated into three-dimensional data by computer image processing. Just like Google Maps, the computer allows the combination of different magnifications. C-CINA also uses many different methods and types of equipment to prepare biological specimens for examination under the electron microscope.

Method development at C-CINA

C-CINA is also active in developing methods for specimen preparation, the microscopy itself, and computer-based evaluation of the images.