MRI-R2: Development of a System for Dynamic, Multipoint, Dual-Color Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy

本奖项由2009年美国复苏与再投资法案（公法111-5）资助。这项主要研究仪器-回收和再投资（MRI-R2）奖资助了哈佛大学多点双色荧光波动光谱（FFS）的开发。该仪器可以对细胞和发育中的生物中蛋白质行为的空间调节进行新的研究，并对体内蛋白质动力学和相互作用进行高通量研究。这项工作将对生物学的许多领域产生重大影响，包括细胞生物学、发育生物学和系统生物学。开发工作作为跨学科研究的焦点，包括生物学、工程学和物理学的元素。开发工作和相应的研究活动将使和帮助物理科学家解决生物学相关问题，同时鼓励生物学家采用更多的定量方法。本科生、研究生和博士后将密切参与仪器工作，因此将接受在跨学科环境中发展定量实验技术的扎实教育。作为课程或暑期项目的一部分，本科生和研究生将有机会看到通过使用尖端技术教授光学、统计物理和生物学。一名高中教师也将参与该项目，探索让高中生，特别是那些来自代表性不足群体的高中生参与进来的方法。这项开发工作将在科学期刊上报道，并在一个网站上公布。一旦构建完成，该仪器将随时可供研究人员使用，开发团队将招募新用户并在线注册。

Abstract This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This Major Research Instrumentation-Recovery and Reinvestment (MRI-R2) award funds the development of a multipoint, dual color fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) at Harvard University. The instrumentation enables new research on the spatial regulation of protein behaviors in cells and developing organisms, and high throughput studies of protein dynamics and interactions in vivo. This work will have a large impact on a number of areas in biology, including cell biology, developmental biology, and systems biology. The development effort serves as a focal point for interdisciplinary research that includes elements of biology, engineering, and physics. The development effort and the corresponding research activities will enable and help physical scientist address biologically relevant questions, while encouraging biologists to adopt more quantitative approaches. Undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows will be intimately involved in the instrumentation effort, and thus will receive a solid education in developing quantitative experimental techniques in an interdisciplinary setting. Undergraduates and graduate students who visit as part of courses or summer programs will have the opportunity to see optics, statistical physics and biology taught through the use of cutting-edge technology. A high school teacher will also work on the project, to explore ways of involving high school students, particularly those from underrepresented groups. The development effort will be reported in scientific journals and publicized on a website. Once constructed, the instrument will be readily available to researchers, and new user will be recruited by the development team and an on-line sign up.