MRI: Acquisition of a Lumicks C-Trap microscope for the study of biomaterials at the nanoscale and education in the South East

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An award is made to Emory University to support the acquisition of a new advanced microscope that combines optical tweezers for high precision mechanical pulling and nm-resolution fluorescence detection for spectroscopic localization of single molecules in microfluidic cells that allow rapid and non-disruptive exchange of experimental conditions. At Emory, the acquisition of this microscope will enhance and extend existing, and enable new, projects spanning from genome transcription and maintenance to the mechano-biochemistry of muscle protein function, shear sensing in blood, the design of molecular tension sensors and motors and materials nano-physics. The system will directly impact research and training infrastructure, the quality of undergraduate and graduate education and, ultimately, STEM education. The microscope will be part of the Core Research Facilities shared among the research Universities in the Atlanta area through the Georgia Research Alliance.The research projects enabled by the acquisition of this system will allow i) the understanding of key processes at the level of the genome such as the effect of elongating RNA polymerase on regulatory proteins normally bound to DNA (and vice versa) and the repair and editing of the genome; ii) understanding of the mechanism of force sensing in living muscle and blood cells; iii) the design of molecular force sensors, probes and motors for biotechnological applications; and iv) extension of the length scale over which advanced fluorescent detection techniques are applicable. The spectrum of research areas that will be transformed by these investigations is broad, connects fundamental with applied research and the natural synergies among the users which will lead to a stronger and better integrated research environment at Emory. Results from these studies will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.