A DIC/Fluorescence Microscope for the Cummings Life Science Center

奖项摘要-9970185光学显微镜长期以来一直是生物学家的基本工具，但最近的技术进步极大地增强了这种方法的力量。透镜、光源和普通显微镜设计的改进极大地提高了图像质量，并使使用早期仪器无法检测到的太小或太暗的结构得以可视化。差示干涉对比(DIC)显微镜能够以前所未有的清晰度观察细胞内的结构。由于图像对比度是由折射率的差异产生的，因此可以在不染色或其他操作的情况下查看活细胞。传统上，荧光显微镜用于固定细胞，虽然这种方法仍然非常有价值，但绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)作为一种研究工具的引入，为利用活细胞进行荧光显微镜打开了新的前景。由于这些进展，芝加哥大学卡明斯生命科学中心的一些研究小组发现，DIC和荧光显微镜的应用越来越多。其中许多研究涉及常规观测，但需要非常好的光学性能。例如，基于显微镜的酵母细胞遗传筛选，以及原生动物分泌颗粒生物发生的可视化。这笔资金将用于购买将安装在卡明斯大楼的DIC/荧光显微镜系统。该系统将包括：(A)一台蔡司Axioplan 2 DIC/荧光显微镜；(B)一台柯达MDS-120数码相机；(C)一台PowerMac G3计算机；以及(D)Improvision的OpenLab图像捕获软件。这个系统将适合在两个层面上运行。对于常规观察，显微镜将完全由手动控制操作。在摄影方面，显微镜和数码相机将由计算机控制。因此，新的显微镜系统将提供复杂的能力，同时允许极大的灵活性。这一设施将使卡明斯集团的研究计划在新的方向上扩展。卡明斯的研究人员使用模型系统来探索遗传学、细胞生物学和发育生物学中的基本问题。这些组织培养了大量的本科生、研究生和博士后研究员，他们将受益于不受限制地获得高质量的显微镜。出于这些原因，新的显微镜设施将帮助芝加哥大学保持其作为生物科学领域一流研究和教学机构的地位。

AWARD ABSTRACT - 9970185 Light microscopy has long been an essential tool for biologists, but recent technological advances have greatly enhanced the power of this approach. Improvements in lenses, light sources and general microscope design have dramatically enhanced image quality, and have allowed for the visualization of structures that were too small or too faint to be detected using earlier instruments. Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy enables intracellular structures to be observed with unprecedented clarity. Because image contrast is generated by differences in refractive index, living cells can be viewed without staining or other manipulation. Fluorescence microscopy has traditionally been used with fixed cells, and while this method remains extremely valuable, the introduction of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) as a research tool has opened new vistas for performing fluorescence microscopy with living cells. Because of these advances, a number of research groups in the Cummings Life Science Center at the University of Chicago are finding increasing applications for DIC and fluorescence microscopy. Many of these studies involve routine observations that nevertheless require very good optics. Examples include microscopy-based genetic screens of yeast cells, and the visualization of secretory granule biogenesis in protozoa. This award will fund the purchase of a DIC/fluorescence microscopy system to be housed in the Cummings building. The system will include: (a) a Zeiss Axioplan 2 DIC/fluorescence microscope; (b) a Kodak MDS-120 digital camera; (c) a PowerMac G3 computer; and (d) Improvision's OpenLab image capture software. This system will be suitable for operation on two levels. For routine observations, the microscope will be operated exclusively by manual controls. For photography, the microscope and digital camera will be controlled with a computer. Hence, the new microscopy system will provide sophisticated capability while allowing for great flexibility. This facility will enable the research programs of the Cummings groups to expand in new directions. Cummings researchers employ model systems to explore fundamental questions in genetics, cell biology and developmental biology. These groups train a large number of undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, who will benefit from unrestricted access to a high-quality microscope. For these reasons, the new microscopy facility will help the University of Chicago to maintain its status as a premier research and teaching institution in the biological sciences.