Acquisition of a High Resolution Scanning Electron Micro- scope

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Support is requested to purchase a new, high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) for the Biological EM Facility (BEMF), a core facility which provides state-of-the art electron microscopical instrumentation for all biological researchers at the University of Hawaii. The BEMF currently operates a ten- year-old Cambridge S150 SEM, the sole SEM dedicated to biological research in the State of Hawaii, which has limited resolution (7 nm) and increasingly expensive maintenance costs. The Cambridge S150 will be replaced with the Hitachi S-8000 field emission electron microscope, an instrument with high resolution (2 nm at accelerating voltages of 25kV), ease of operation and low maintenance costs. The broad operating capabilities of this instrument and the large specimens that can be accommodated are needed to support the wide range of biological studies undertaken at the University. The high resolution capability is required for studies of intracellular organization at the medial range between that obtainable by regular scanning electron microscopy and the high magnification obtainable by freeze-etching and transmission electron microscopes. Examples of projects benefitting from the advanced capabilities of this mew SEM will be the study of membrane dynamics and intracellular organization in the endosome-phagosome-lysosome system of Paramecium, the native state of intracellular organization of anhydrobiotic organisms, vector/virus relationships of thrips and the control of plant viruses, the age determination of fish by examination of the fine structure of growth increments of otoliths, and the study of fossilized sea urchin tests and spines to determine rates of evolution. This will be the only field emission SEM in the State of Hawaii and will be available to all users on a cost- sharing basis. The University will fund approximately 30% of the cost of the instrument.