Laser Capture Microdissection Instrument

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案请求支持购买Arcturus AutoPix激光捕获显微解剖仪器(LCM)，将其添加到凯斯西储大学(CASE)视觉科学研究中心(VSRC)现有的共享组织学/成像资源中。由14名美国国立卫生研究院资助的研究人员组成的用户小组利用基因/蛋白质表达谱技术，但他们选择特定细胞群体进行高水平基因组/蛋白质组分析的能力受到严重限制。Arcturus AutoPix是最新一代的LCM，是一个独立的系统，可以从冰冻切片中获取特定的组织或细胞，用于基因组和/或蛋白质组研究。AutoPix之所以被选为其他商业系统，是因为它是唯一具有(A)细胞/组织模式识别功能以自动选择用户训练的细胞的LCM，(B)可提高效率的多载玻片能力，(C)无需任何特殊安装或准备要求的使用材料的能力，以及(D)封闭的、受保护的环境，以最大限度地减少mRNA/蛋白质污染。 此外，Arcturus还为用于DNA微阵列研究的信使核糖核酸的分离和线性扩增提供全面的技术和试剂支持。大学将为LCM提供专用空间，VSRC将为资源经理和研究助理III提供工资。PI和咨询委员会将监督系统的管理。该提案中概述的项目需要一个高通量系统，用于收集特定类型的细胞，用于使用DNA微阵列、定量聚合酶链式反应和质谱学分析基因和蛋白质表达。这些要求需要一种仪器，能够快速识别和捕获数量上所需的细胞类型，以产生质量和数量都足以供后续分析使用的核酸/蛋白质。这代表了Case VSRC和癌症中心之间的合作伙伴关系，用户将与组织学、成像、基因表达分析和生物信息学方面优秀的现有中心资源进行互动，共同发挥大学范围内的综合资源的作用。根据技术指标和仪器比较，我们确定AutoPix是满足CASE教师需求的最佳选择。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests support for the acquisition of an Arcturus AutoPix Laser Capture Microdissection Instrument (LCM) to be added to an existing shared histology/imaging resource in the Visual Sciences Research Center (VSRC) at Case Western Reserve University (CASE). A Users Group of 14 NIH-funded investigators utilize gene/protein expression-profiling technology, but are severely limited in their ability to select specific cell populations for high level genomic/proteomic analyses. The Arcturus AutoPix, the latest generation LCM, is a self-contained system for acquisition of specific tissues or cells from frozen sections for genomic and/or proteomic studies. The AutoPix was chosen over other commercial systems since it is the only LCM with (a) cell/tissue pattern recognition to automatically select cells as trained by the user, (b) multi-slide capacity to increase efficiency, (c) ability to use material without any special mounting or preparation requirements, and (d) an enclosed, protected environment to minimize mRNA/protein contamination. Moreover, Arcturus provides full technical and reagent support for isolation and linear amplification of mRNA for use in DNA microarray studies. The University will provide dedicated space for the LCM and the VSRC will provide salary for both the Resource Manager and Research Assistant III. The PI and Advisory Committee will oversee management of the system. The projects outlined in this proposal require a high-throughput system for the collection of specific cell types for analyses of gene and protein expression using DNA microarray, quantitative PCR, and mass spectroscopy. These requirements necessitate an instrument with the ability to rapidly identify and capture desired cell types in numbers to yield nucleic acid/protein sufficient in quality and quantity for subsequent analyses. This represents a partnership between the CASE VSRC and Cancer Center, and users will interact with excellent existing Center resources in histology, imaging, gene expression analysis, and bioinformatics, collectively functioning as an integrated, University-wide resource. Based upon technical specifications and instrument comparisons, we determined that the AutoPix is the best choice to meet the needs of CASE faculty.