Manipulating Molecules with unprecedented resolution and control - the Lumicks C-trap

这项提议的目的是购买一个Lumicks C-trap，安置在诺丁汉大学。在这里，它将作为一种设施仪器运行，为东米德兰兹和南约克郡的科学家提供独特而急需的能力（参见莱斯特大学、拉夫堡大学、谢菲尔德大学和诺丁汉特伦特大学的支持信）。C-trap的独特之处在于它能够操纵（弯曲、移动和拉伸）单个分子，如DNA和蛋白质，同时允许对这些分子进行成像。它是一种高度专业化的仪器，用于研究单个分子的动力学。这是通过结合光学捕获，微流体和显微镜（荧光或无标签）来实现的。它将被用于研究各种生物过程，如细胞骨架动力学、DNA修复机制、细胞内运输、染色体结构、生物材料和蛋白质液滴的组装和拆卸。在诺丁汉，我们已经确定了三个我们计划瞄准的初始项目。这些是i)染色体周围生物物理特性的测量；ii)细胞骨架如何协调细胞分裂并允许细胞承受压力；iii) DNA修复机制在癌症生物学中的作用。这些项目中的每一个都将通过使用c捕集器得到加强，因为该仪器将允许进行否则不可能进行的实验。独特的功能和广泛的应用范围意味着该仪器为研究生物问题的研究人员开辟了未知的可能性，以了解生命和健康的基础。因此，至关重要的是，诺丁汉和周边地区能够获得这种变革性技术，以扩大该地区研究人员的独特知识和能力，以提供世界领先的生物科学研究。

The aim of this proposal is to purchase a Lumicks C-trap to be housed at the University of Nottingham. Here it will be run as a facility instrument delivering a unique and much needed capability to Scientists based in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire (see letters of support from the Universities of Leicester, Loughborough, Sheffield, and Nottingham Trent). The C-trap is unique in its ability to manipulate (bend, move and stretch) single molecules, such as DNA and proteins, whilst allowing simultaneous imaging of these molecules. It is a highly specialised instrument for studying the dynamics of individual single molecules. This is achieved by combining optical trapping, micro-fluidics and microscopy (fluorescence or label-free). It will be used to study a variety of biological processes such as cytoskeletal dynamics, DNA repair mechanisms, intracellular transport, chromosome structure, biomaterials and the assembly and disassembly of protein droplets. At Nottingham we have identified three initial projects we plan to target. These are i) measurement of the biophysical properties of the chromosome periphery; ii) how the cytoskeleton orchestrates cell division and allows cells to withstand force and iii) the role of DNA repair mechanisms in cancer biology. Each of these projects will be enhanced by access to a C-trap as this instrument will permit experiments that would not be otherwise possible.The unique capabilities and the wide range of possible applications mean this instrument opens unexplored possibilities for researchers working on biological questions to understand the foundations of life and health. It is therefore vital that Nottingham and surrounding regions have access to this transformative technology to expand the unique knowledge and capability of researchers in the region to deliver world leading bioscience research.