A state-of-the-art microplate reader for research in endocrine toxicology and cancer

分子设备公司的SpetraMax M5多检测微孔板读取器是一款多功能仪器，在毒理学研究中具有重要应用。它可以测量吸光度、荧光强度、偏振和时间分辨荧光，以及6到384孔板格式或试管中的发光。它具有连续的光谱扫描和动力学能力，并包括一个复杂的分析软件包。这个系统对于我们研究所INRS-IAF的内分泌毒理学研究小组的进步和提高效率是必要的。(共同)申请者的不同研究活动包括：细胞毒性机制研究，信使核糖核酸表达，DNA分析(所有申请者)，催化酶活性的测量(T Sanderson)，蛋白质的检测和鉴定(C Vaillancourt，D Cyr)，以及阐明类固醇激素(T Sanderson)、神经递质(C Vaillancourt)和细胞因子(D Girard)参与内分泌紊乱和炎症的信号通路，无论是由于化学物质还是由于疾病或衰老。对高度相互依赖的免疫-神经-内分泌信号系统中涉及的第二信使、各种蛋白激酶和许多其他蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用的身份和行为的良好理解需要一个灵敏、多功能和高通量的微孔板阅读器。分子设备公司开发了促进信号通路研究的独特技术，如Catchpoint(用于检测cAMP/GMP)和IMAP(用于测量各种蛋白激酶活性)，这些分析需要高灵敏度的偏振和时间分辨荧光能力。所要求的仪器也非常适合于使用各种ELISA法对蛋白质、细胞因子和半胱氨酸天冬氨酸氨基转移酶进行灵敏快速的定量检测。该仪器对于测量从荧光素酶转基因小鼠中分离出来的器官的发光是必不可少的，该转基因小鼠是为研究类固醇激素信号和类固醇酶调节而设计的，该项目目前由主要申请者T·桑德森(T Sanderson)的NSERC发现拨款资助。

The SpectraMax M5 multi-detection microplate reader from Molecular Devices is a highly versatile instrument with important applications in toxicological research. It can measure absorbance, fluorescence intensity, polarized and time-resolved fluorescence, and luminescence in 6- to 384-well plate formats, or in cuvettes. It has continuous spectral scanning and kinetic capabilities and includes a sophisticated analysis software package. This system is necessary for the advancement and increased efficiency of the endocrine toxicology research group at our institute INRS-IAF. The diverse research activities of the (co-)applicants cover the study of mechanisms of cell toxicity, expression of mRNA, analysis of DNA (all applicants), measurement of catalytic enzyme activities (T Sanderson), detection and identification of proteins (C Vaillancourt, D Cyr), and the elucidation of steroid hormone- (T Sanderson), neurotransmitter- (C Vaillancourt) and cytokine- (D Girard) signalling pathways involved in endocrine disturbances and inflammation, either by chemicals or due to disease or aging. A good understanding of the identity and behaviour of second messengers, various protein kinases, and numerous other protein-protein interactions involved in the highly interdependent immuno-neuro-endocrine signalling system requires a sensitive, versatile and high-throughput microplate reader. Molecular Devices has developed unique technology facilitating the study of signalling pathways, such as CatchPoint (for detection of cAMP/GMP) and IMAP (for the measurement of various protein kinase activities), which are assays that require highly sensitive polarized and time-resolved fluorescence capabilities. The requested instrument is also highly suitable for the sensitive and rapid quantitative detection of proteins, cytokines, and caspases, using various ELISA methods. The instrument is further essential for the measurement of luminescence in organs isolated from luciferase-transfected transgenic mice designed for the study of steroid hormone-signalling and steroid enzyme-regulation, a project currently funded by the NSERC discovery grant of the main applicant (T Sanderson).