Enhancing electron microscopy facilities at the University of Sussex with High-Pressure Freezing technology (360G-Wellcome-208348_Z_17_Z)

We are requesting a high-pressure freezer (HPF) and freeze-substitution processor (FSP) at the University of Sussex to substantially enhance our transmission electron microscopy research and meet significant unmet demand. HPF/FSP is now the de facto standard for the highest-quality specimen fixation for ultrastructural work, offering key benefits for protein integrity, ultra-rapid controlled fixation, fluorescence preservation for correlative work and penetrative thick-sample fixation. The requested system includes modules for synchronizing optogenetic/electrical stimulation with freezing onset, offering revealing ‘snapshot’ views of rapid and dynamic events. Collectively, these advantages will open up major new directions for existing research programs within the School of Life Sciences, and wider afield. Planned research includes studies aimed at: defining synaptic vesicle recycling pathways in central and sensory terminals, revealing ultrastructural correlates of disease-related neuronal dysfunction, elucidating chromosomal breakage events during mitosis, investigating ultrastructural determinants of centrosome positioning, and characterizing protein organization in ionizing radiation-induced foci. The School has made major recent strategic investment in developing world-class electron microscopy facilities and the HPF/FSP will offer significant enhancements to this equipment for ultrastructural research. The system will be fully-integrated into the new purpose-built Life Sciences building (completion 2019-2020) ensuring its long-term sustainable use within a state-of-the-art dedicated Bio-Imaging centre.