Acquisition of a Instant Imager Electronic Autoradiography System

本提案是对Packard InstantImager电子放射自显影系统的要求，该系统可直接在凝胶、印迹、薄层色谱、组织切片或任何其他高达20 X 24 cm 2的扁平样品上电子定位和测量放射性。这种仪器将直接测量真实的时间衰变，而不需要X射线胶片或存储荧光屏。波士顿大学生物化学系是一个大型多方面的教学和研究部门。大多数成员从事分子和/或细胞生物化学的基础研究。通常，这项研究需要放射性标记技术，以检测少量的生物相关分子。放射性标记的蛋白质、RNA、DNA和脂质通常通过凝胶电泳或薄层色谱法分离，并通过使用X射线胶片的放射自显影法可视化。X射线胶片放射自显影具有明显的缺点，例如灵敏度低和线性范围小，使得定量分析困难且费力。通常，样品需要暴露过夜或更长时间。通常需要多次曝光，以检测同一凝胶上的高丰度和低丰度分子。当定量是关键时，大多数研究人员从固体支持物中去除放射性标记的材料，以便在通过X射线胶片可视化后使用闪烁计数器测量崩解。最近的技术进步使得替代仪器能够在更短的时间内定位和直接测量平面样品上的放射性，并且具有更高的灵敏度。该仪器将有助于研究工作，并将在几门课程中用作教授放射性测量基本知识的仪器。

This proposal is a request for a Packard InstantImager Electronic Autoradiography System which electronically locates and measures radioactivity directly on gels, blots, thin layer chromatography, tissue slices, or any other flat samples up to 20 X 24 cm2. This instrument will directly measure in real time disintegrations eliminating the need for either X-ray film or storage phosphor screens. The Boston University biochemistry department is a large multifaceted teaching and research department. Most members perform basic research in molecular and/or cellular biochemistry. Usually this research requires radiolabeling techniques in order to detect small amounts of biologically relevant molecules. Radiolabeled proteins, RNA, DNA and lipids are often separated by gel electrophoresis or thin layer chromatography and visualized by autoradiography using X-ray film. X-ray film autoradiography has distinct disadvantages such as low sensitivity and small linear range making quantitative analysis difficult and laborious. Typically, samples need to be exposed overnight or longer. Often multiple exposures are necessary in order to detect both high and low abundant molecules on the same gel. Most researchers, when quantitation is critical, remove radiolabeled material from solid supports in order to measure disintegration using a scintillation counter after visualization by X-ray film. Recent advances in technology are making alternate instruments available to locate and directly measure radioactivity on flat samples with more sensitivity in far less time. The instrument will help research efforts and will be used in several courses as an instrument to teach essentials regarding radioactivity measurements.