An Improved Aequorin Method.

这是一项开发一种改进的Aequorin方法来测量细胞质钙水平的建议。Aequorin是从水母中提取的一种化学发光蛋白。在活细胞内发现的整个范围内，它的发光随着钙浓度的增加而迅速增加，而且它可以在不干扰细胞功能或发育的情况下注射。荷水马钱子素的细胞发出的发光模式和水平可以揭示注射后几天内细胞内游离钙的模式和水平的变化。与目前用于测量细胞质钙水平的荧光染料技术相比，Aequorin方法有几个优点。然而，它需要改进才能充分发挥其潜力。Jaffe博士将开发一种高效的成像系统，并利用受精的海胆卵、网茎网茎基细胞和其他细胞，开发一种将Aequorin大量装载到细胞中的方法。如果成功，改进的aequorin方法将提高我们准确测量细胞质钙水平的能力，并将有助于更好地了解许多涉及钙的细胞和发育过程。

This is a proposal to develop an improved aequorin method of measuring cytoplasmic calcium levels. Aequorin is a chemiluminescent protein extracted rom a jellyfish. Its luminescence increases rapidly with calcium concentration over the whole range found within living cells and it can be injected without disturbing their function or development. The pattern and level of luminescence which is emitted by an aequorin-loaded cell serves to reveal the changing patterns and levels of free calcium within this cell for days after injection. The aequorin method has several advantages over fluorescent dye techniques currently used for measuring cytoplasmic calcium levels. However, it requires improving for it to reach its full potential. Dr. Jaffe will develop an efficient imaging system and a way for mass loading of aequorin into cells, using fertilized sea urchin eggs, Dictyostelium cells, and other cells. If successful, the improved aequorin method will increase our ability to accurately measure the cytoplasmic calcium levels and will contribute to better understanding of many cell and developmental processes that involve calcium.