RUI: Acquisition of Inverted and Upright Light Microscopes and an Image Processing and Analysis System to Support Research in Cell Biology

9317873项科赫光学显微镜研究构成了细胞生物学研究的基石。任何细胞生物学研究实验室都不应该没有现代光学显微镜技术的全面配套，以分析细胞结构和功能。这项提议寻求配套资金，以购买一台倒置显微镜和一台直立显微镜，每台显微镜都具有相位对比度、荧光和具有静止或视频显微摄影能力的差分干涉对比度光学系统，都将连接到最先进的图像采集和分析系统以及一台专用图像处理计算机。该仪器将构成一个新的光学显微镜实验室的核心。它的收购延续了我们为学习细胞生物学的教职员工、研究生和本科生增加研究机会的努力。目前尚无所需类型的显微镜。研究人员必须在一台研究级立式显微镜上借时间，或者在五门课程中与学生竞争四台学生级的直立式显微镜--根本没有研究级倒置显微镜或图像采集/处理仪器。所要求的仪器将促进关于被衣状精子和卵子激活的细胞生物学、海兔神经元中mRNA的轴突运输、植物对紫外线损伤的保护以及其他五个小项目的研究。

9317873 Koch Light microscopic studies comprise the cornerstone of cell biological investigations. No cell biology research laboratory should be without access to the full complement of modern light microscopy techniques for analyzing cell structure and function. This proposal seeks matching funds to purchase one inverted microscope and one upright microscopes each having phase contrast, epifluorescence and differential interference contrast optics with still or video photomicrography capabilities all to be coupled to a state-of-the-art image acquisition and analysis system and a dedicated image processing computer. This instrumentation will form the nucleus of a new Light Microscopy Laboratory. Its acquisition continues our effort to enhance research opportunities for faculty, graduate and undergraduate students studying cell biology. Microscopes of the types requested are not readily available at present. Researchers must borrow time on a single research-grade upright microscope or compete with students in five courses for four student grade upright microscopes--no research-grade inverted microscope or image acquisition/processing instrumentation is available at all. The requested instrumentation will promote studies of cell biology of tunicate sperm and egg activation, axonal transport of mRNA in sea hare neurons, and protection to UV damage in plants as well as five other minor projects.