Confocal laser scanning microscope system for live cell imaging

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The Confocal-Laser-Scanning Microscope (CLSM) system for live-cell imaging with highest resolution will allow the research groups of the applicants to answer a broad spectrum of questions in zoology with experimental approaches. A major focus will be on the 3D- and 4D- recording of physiological and developmental biological processes in the living objects. The animal taxa in which these processes will be studied are diverse and include marine and terrestrial invertebrates and their embryogenesis, neurophysiological processes in the nervous system and the documentation of molecular signatures in histological sections and whole-mount samples. An additional focus is the documentation of sub-cellular structures, which were labelled with fluorescent dyes and are therefore recoded at super-resolution. The CLSM will be the ideal and versatile instrument to conduct these studies. Especially the large diversity of objects makes the system highly adaptable. Speed, high sensitivity, and resolution are key criteria to conduct the planned projects. The system allows high multiplexing of partly overlapping emission spectra, a fast scanning of the samples with the lowest light exposure as possible to not damage the sensitive objects. Special detectors allow super-resolution, and the easy-to-use software allows to automatically find the sample and adjust the region of interest and the optimal illumination of each fluorophore. Only with these features, early embryonic stages (2-cell or 4-cell) can be recorded in a 4-dimensional manner. The main user of the system are 4 research groups at the Institute for Zoology and Evolutionary Research but are also accessible for other researchers at the University of Jena. The system will be used to start interdisciplinary projects between the research group. The system will enhance the spectrum of scientific areas at the FSU Jena and connect the areas zoology, neuroscience, developmental biology significantly.