A Phosphorimager for Molecular Biology Research and Teaching

本申请是为购买用于分子生物学研究和教学的分子动力学磷光成像仪提供资金。该仪器将是至关重要的研究应用至少八个教师，以及在分子生物学的本科生和研究生的培训。使用存储磷光体技术的放射自显影提供了优于传统检测方法的几个优点。凝胶或滤膜上放射性蛋白质或DNA的定量通常使用X射线胶片和密度测定法或使用闪烁计数器进行。 存储磷光体的灵敏度比X射线胶片高100倍，使测量远低于胶片的检测水平。此外，与仅在两个数量级上具有线性范围的X射线胶片相比，屏幕在五个数量级上定量准确。新技术也是环境有利的，因为它消除了与电影处理相关的重金属废物处理问题，当它取代闪烁计数时，它减少了混合有机和放射性化学废物处理问题。这项技术将使新的实验方法，提高定量，提高生产率，它将为我们的学生提供最先进的培训。

This request is for funds to purchase a Molecular Dynamics PhosphorImager for use in research and teaching in molecular biology. This instrument will be critical for research applications of at least eight faculty as well as in training undergraduate and graduate students in molecular biology. Autoradiography using storage phosphor technology offers several advantages over traditional detection methods. Quantitation of amounts of radioactive protein or DNA on gels or filters has traditionally been done using X- ray film and densitometry or using scintillation counters. Storage phosphors are up to 100 times more sensitive than X-ray film, enabling measurements well below levels of detection for film. Also, screens are quantitatively accurate over five orders of magnitude as compared to X-ray film which has a linear range over only two orders of magnitude. The new technology is also environmentally advantageous because it eliminates the heavy metal waste disposal problems associated with film processing, and when it replaces scintillation counting it reduces mixed organic and radiochemical waste disposal problems. This technology will enable new experimental approaches, improve quantitation, enhance productivity, and it will afford our students state of the art training.