Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer with Microscope Interface

该合同支持购买带有荧光显微镜接口的荧光光谱仪。该系统将能够达到纳秒级的分辨率。计划的用途包括高灵敏度和宽激发和发射波长范围的荧光测量；关于长寿命发光的光谱和寿命测量；以及化学和细胞样品荧光各向异性的时间分辨测量。该光谱仪将满足来自四个大学院系的九名用户的研究需求，所有这些用户都在NSF支持的领域进行研究。将利用该仪器的研究项目包括水在生物界面上的运动，拟南芥微管马达蛋白的调节，促黄体激素受体的组织，以及控制孕酮分泌的分子机制。该仪器还将用于开发检测弱磁场的光学策略，并改进测量膜分子旋转的方法。共享使用这些设备将促进不同领域的研究人员之间的互动和合作，还将通过在特定的本科生和研究生课程中使用来促进教学、培训和学习。此外，研究人员计划将仪器使用的结果纳入各种正式和非正式的活动中，向不同的受众传播有关现代科学的信息。

This award supports the purchase of a fluorescence spectrometer interfaced with a fluorescence microscope. The system will be capable of nanosecond resolution. Planned uses include measurements of fluorescence with high sensitivity and over wide ranges of excitation and emission wavelengths; spectral and lifetime measurements on long-lived luminescence; and time-resolved measurements of fluorescence anisotropy of chemical and cellular samples. The spectrometer will serve the research needs of nine users from a total of four University departments, all of whom conduct research in NSF-supported areas. Research projects that will take advantage of the instrument include studies of the motion of water at biological interfaces, of the regulation of a microtubule motor protein from Arabidopsis, of the organization of luteinizing hormone receptors, and of molecular mechanisms controlling progesterone secretion. The instrument will also be used to develop optical strategies for detecting weak magnetic fields and for improvement of methods for measuring molecular rotation in membranes. The shared use of the equipment will facilitate interaction and collaboration between researchers in diverse fields, and will also promote teaching, training and learning through use in specific undergraduate and graduate courses. In addition, the researchers plan to incorporate the results of instrument use into a variety of formal and informal activities that disseminate information about modern science to various audiences.