Time-resolved cryoEM using Spotiton

We present an approach for preparing cryoEM grids to study short-lived molecular states. Using piezo electric dispensing, two independent streams of ~50 pL sample drops are deposited within 10 ms of each other onto a nanowire EM grid surface, and the mixing reaction stops when the grid is vitrified in liquid ethane, on the order of ~100 ms later. We demonstrate the utility of this approach for four biological systems where short-lived states are of high interest.