CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE FACILITY

由波士顿生物医学研究所的10名主要研究人员及其研究人员组成的用户组正在向Bio-Rad实验室申请Radiance Plus共焦显微镜。这些研究人员正在进行各种研究项目，包括：平滑肌中各种蛋白质的结构功能关系，完整细胞中信号转导途径的测定，分子马达与细胞内细胞器的相互作用，非常规肌球蛋白异构体的研究，心肌细胞中的钙信号传导和活细胞中β-淀粉样蛋白的动力学。所要求的仪器将用于细胞中蛋白质的高分辨率定位、定量图像分析、具有高空间精度的共定位分析、确认肽和寡核苷酸均匀细胞加载到多细胞组织中以及细胞荧光共振能量转移。这些应用中没有一个是标准荧光显微镜所能满足的。由于研究所于2000年1月搬迁到更大的地方，现有的用于收集初步数据的共焦系统将不再可用，迫切需要更换。所要求的仪器将存放在研究所的核心设施内，并由研究所主任和高级科学家Kathleen Morgan博士监督; Cynthia Gallant女士将是指定的操作员;加里亨利先生将负责与计算机有关的问题，包括图像处理、图像传输和计算机维修。预计BBRI的研究项目将几乎完全占用可用的仪器时间;然而，其他研究机构的科学家也将在可用性的基础上获得访问权，优先考虑NIH资助的研究人员。

A user group consisting of 10 principal investigators and their research staff at the Boston Biomedical Research Institute is requesting a Radiance Plus Confocal Microscope from Bio-Rad Laboratories. These investigators are conducting a diversity of research projects including: structure function relationships of various proteins in smooth muscle, the determination of signal transduction pathways in intact cells, the interaction of molecular motors with intracellular organelles, the study of non-conventional myosin isoforms, calcium signaling in cardiac muscle cells and the dynamics of beta-amyloid in living cells. The requested instrument will be used for high resolution localization of proteins in cells, quantitative image analysis, colocalization analysis with high spatial accuracy, confirmation of uniform cellular loading of peptides and oligonucleotides into multicellular tissues and cellular fluorescence resonance energy transfer. None of these applications can be satisfied by a standard fluorescence microscope. Due to relocation of the Institute in January 2000, into larger quarters, an existing confocal, which has allowed the collection of preliminary data, will no longer be available and its replacement is urgently needed. The requested instrument will be housed in the Institute's core facility and will be supervised by Dr. Kathleen Morgan, the Director of the Institute and a Senior Scientist; Ms. Cynthia Gallant will be the designated operator; Mr. Gary Henry will be responsible for computer related issues, including image handling, image transfer and computer repair. It is anticipated that research projects at BBRI will almost fully occupy the available instrument time; however, scientists from other research institutions will also be given access on an availability basis, giving preference to NIH funded investigators.