A Confocal Multiphoton/Atomic Force Microscopy System

共焦多光子/原子力显微镜系统

• 批准号: 6736704
• 负责人: GERALD A. MEININGER
• 金额: $ 35万
• 依托单位: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-05-01 至 2005-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6736704
• 关键词: atomic force microscopy; biomedical equipment purchase; confocal scanning microscopy; cytoskeletal proteins; extracellular matrix proteins; gene expression; integrins; membrane proteins; protein protein interaction; proteomics; suprachiasmatic nucleus; vascular smooth muscle

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is requesting support for the purchase of a confocal / multiphoton microscopy system that will be combined with an atomic force microscope (AFM) system. The combination of these two imaging modalities is unique and reversible involving only conversion of the microscope stages. Consequently, it can be operated with or without the AFM components satisfying the needs of users to use the microscope system with or without the AFM technology. Major uses of this technology will include studies of cell membrane integrins and their interactions with extracellular matrix proteins, focal contact and cytoskeletal proteins in response to mechanical loading at the level of a single focal contact, cell signaling responses in vascular and lymphatic smooth muscle, endothelial ceils in response to mechanical stimulation with the AFM, plasticity of three-dimensional smooth muscle organization in the wall of isolated and functional arterioles and lymphatic vessels, three-dimensional organizational characteristics of extracellular matrix proteins in the intact vascular wall, three-dimensional capillary tube networks in artificial extracellular matrices and spatial regulation of real time circadian gene expression in individual cells from suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in vitro. The requested system will greatly facilitate our ability to perform repeated measurements over time at higher speeds and with less cellular and tissue damage. The unique capabilities of this hybrid imaging system that will allow us to perform these studies include: 1) limited biological damage to living cells and tissues; 2) in focus, optical sections of thick samples; 3) ability to view deep into slices and tissues; 4) the ability to image a variety of fluorescent molecules; and 5) increased ability to obtain three-dimensional data sets from cells and tissues and do this over time. This new technology will provide faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students with access to a unique state-of-the-art imaging facility and will facilitate the ongoing research of the major and minor users.

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请请求支持购买将与原子力显微镜（AFM）系统相结合的共聚焦/多光子显微镜系统。这两种成像方式的组合是独特的和可逆的，仅涉及显微镜载物台的转换。因此，它可以在有或没有AFM组件的情况下操作，满足用户使用有或没有AFM技术的显微镜系统的需求。该技术的主要用途将包括研究细胞膜整合素及其与细胞外基质蛋白、单点接触水平下对机械负荷的响应的焦点接触和细胞骨架蛋白的相互作用、血管和淋巴管平滑肌中的细胞信号传导响应、内皮细胞对AFM的机械刺激的响应、分离的和功能性的小动脉和淋巴管壁中的三维平滑肌组织的可塑性，完整血管壁中细胞外基质蛋白的三维组织特征，人工细胞外基质中的三维毛细管网络和体外视交叉上核（SCN）单个细胞中真实的时间昼夜节律基因表达的空间调节。所要求的系统将极大地促进我们以更高的速度随着时间的推移进行重复测量的能力，并且细胞和组织损伤更少。这种混合成像系统的独特能力将使我们能够进行这些研究，包括：1）对活细胞和组织的有限生物损伤; 2）聚焦，厚样品的光学切片; 3）深入观察切片和组织的能力; 4）成像各种荧光分子的能力;和5）增加的从细胞和组织获得三维数据集的能力，并随着时间的推移这样做。这项新技术将为教师、博士后研究员和学生提供一个独特的最先进的成像设施，并将促进主要和次要用户的持续研究。