Abstract: Described nucleic acid molecules (and corresponding peptides) encode lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC) acyltransferases. Over-expression of the LPC acyltransferases in a cell may lead to enhanced production of PUFA, or other unusual fatty acids, and/or to increased oil content in the cell.

Abstract: New methods for phase contrast imaging in transmission electron microscopy use the imaging electron beam itself to prepare a hole-free thin film for use as an effective phase plate, in some cases eliminating the need for ex-situ fabrication of a hole and reducing requirements for the precision of the ZPP hardware. The electron optical properties of the ZPP hardware are modified primarily in two ways: by boring a hole using the electron beam; and/or by modifying the electro-optical properties by charging induced by the primary beam. Furthermore a method where the sample is focused by a lens downstream from the ZPP hardware is disclosed. A method for transferring a back focal plane of the objective lens to a selected area aperture plane and any plane conjugated with the back focal plane of the objective lens is also provided.