Acquisition of Bio-Imaging Instrumentation

该提案要求拨款购买若干图像分析仪器：综合磷成像仪和直接荧光/化学荧光系统、胶片记录器、MacIntosh计算机和专用系统激光打印机。这三种仪器将提供关键的图像分析能力，目前化学和生物学系的研究生，博士后研究员和教师无法获得。从这些仪器中受益的主要研究项目如下：(1)限定内切酶结合和切割特定DNA的结构和能量参数的定义-研究酶-DNA复合物的模型系统；(2)细菌DNA甲基转移酶的催化和识别机制的定义；(3)海洋微生物获取铁的机理；(4)干扰素调控下双链RNA依赖酶的表达与表征；(5) Ras功能的分子机制定义；(6)用晶体学和生化方法研究核酸聚合酶和微管结合蛋白的结构-功能关系；(7)突触囊泡乙酰胆碱转运体的结构-功能分析。

The proposal requests funds to purchase several instruments for image analysis: an integrated phosphor-imager and direct fluorescence/chemifluorescence system, a film recorder, and a MacIntosh computer and dedicated system laser printer. The three instruments will provide critical image analysis capabilities presently unavailable to Chemistry and Biology Department graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty. Major research projects that will benefit from these instruments are as follows: (1) Definition of structural and energetic parameters for specific DNA binding and cleavage by a restriction endonuclease- a model system for studying enzyme-DNA complexes; (2) Definition of catalytic and recognition mechanisms of bacterial DNA methyltransferases; (3) Mechanisms of iron acquisition by marine micro-organisms; (4) Expression and characterization of double-stranded RNA dependent enzymes under interferon regulation; (5) Definition of the molecular mechanisms involved in Ras function; (6) Structure- function relationships of nuceic acid polymerases and microtubule-binding proteins studied by crystallographic and biochemical approaches; (7) Structure-function analysis of the acetylcholine transporter of synaptic vesicles.