SGER: Exploratory studies of marine microbes using nanoSIMS

这个探索性研究的小补助金为博士后研究和使用NanoSIMS或纳米尺度二次离子质谱的培训提供支持。 纳米西姆斯是一种最先进的方法，用于以50 nm的分辨率分析生物材料中金属和同位素组成的分布。因此，人们可以检查相关金属（如铁和钼）的细胞内和细胞间分布以及许多元素的同位素组成，这种方法提供了揭示这些元素摄取和代谢的复杂性的手段。 研究人员与劳伦斯利弗莫尔国家实验室（LLNL）建立了合作关系，探索纳米SIMS在海洋微生物研究中的应用。虽然对许多相互竞争的用户来说，进入系统的时间非常宝贵，但2007- 2008年已向调查员提供了波束时间。 这个机会允许博士后与LLNL的nanoSIMS小组一起进行探索性研究，进入与海洋生态系统相关的生物化学和生物学领域。其中包括海洋浮游植物和细菌中生物化学上重要的金属如Fe、Mo、Co和Zn的细胞分布，作为其细胞代谢和生理学的指标，13 C和15 N等稳定同位素的细胞内和细胞间精细分布，作为细胞功能的指标，和富集示踪剂研究，以辨别细胞内和细胞间的代谢和代谢物交换。相关过程是固氮和硝酸盐吸收，博士后助理（Sophie Bonnet）将与南加州大学的几位研究人员（Capone，Sanudo-Wilhelmy，Moffett，Hutchins，Nealson，Berelson）以及利弗莫尔实验室的科学家和技术人员在nanoSIMS设施进行实验。

This Small Grant for Exploratory Research provides support for post doctoral research and training using NanoSIMS or nano scale secondary ion mass spectrometry. Nano SIMS is a state of the art approach for analyzing the distribution of metals and isotopic composition in biological materials at 50 nm resolution. Hence, one may examine the intracellular and intercellular distributions of relevant metals such as iron and molybdenum as well as the isotopic composition of many elements.This approach provides the means to reveal the intricacies of uptake and metabolism of these elements. The investigator has established a collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to explore the application of nanoSIMS for studies of marine microorganisms. While access time on the system is at a premium with many competing users, beam time has been made available to the investigator in 2007- 2008. This opportunity allows the post doc to undertake exploratory research with the nanoSIMS group at LLNL into biogeochemically and biologically oriented areas of relevance to marine ecosystems. These include the cellular distribution of biochemically important metals such Fe, Mo, Co and Zn in marine phytoplankton and bacteria as indicators of their cellular metabolism and physiology, the fine scale intra- and intercellular distribution of stable isotopes such as 13C and 15N as indicators of cellular function, and in enriched tracer studies in order to discern metabolism and metabolite exchange within and among cells.Processes of relevance are nitrogen fixation and nitrate uptake, vitamin B12 metabolism and carbonic anhydrase activity.The postdoctoral associate (Sophie Bonnet) will interact with several researchers at USC (Capone, Sanudo-Wilhelmy, Moffett, Hutchins, Nealson, Berelson) as well as the scientists and technicians at the Livermore Lab in undertaking experiments at the nanoSIMS facility.