Molecular and Cellular Analyzer

所需的分子和细胞分析仪是一种尖端的自动化流式细胞仪，旨在对单个细胞的性质进行量化，一次一个细胞。它可以在不到一分钟的时间里对数万个细胞进行计数，同时测量细胞大小、细胞粒度以及DNA含量和基因表达等细胞成分的数量。我们迫切需要这台仪器来支持我们由NSERC资助的Discovery研究项目，该项目旨在研究：1)与早幼粒细胞白血病(PML)小体相关的蛋白质在氧化DNA损伤反应和修复中的功能(朱博士团队)；2)低剂量电离辐射对人类、非人类物种和环境的影响(Mothersill博士和Seymour博士团队)；以及3)帮助细胞适应亚最佳生长环境的细菌基因的作用(Schellhorn博士团队)。所要求的仪器将使我们的研究小组能够测量：1)来自人类、鱼类和两栖动物的细胞系中的DNA含量和细胞周期曲线，以及2)荧光标记蛋白质不仅在真核细胞系中的表达，而且在细菌细胞中的表达。此外，所要求的流式细胞仪的自动化特性将极大地减少与手动分析相关的偏差，并提高我们研究小组的效率。目前，我们所在的生物系没有流式细胞仪。所要求的流式细胞仪将为我们的研究小组提供新的能力，以进行目前生物系现有设备无法进行的研究。流式细胞仪正在成为我们研究领域的标准仪器，因此，为了保持竞争力，获得所需的流式细胞仪也是必要的。此外，所要求的流式细胞仪将极大地受益于受训人员(包括本科生和研究生)，他们将是我们研究计划的主要用户。流式细胞仪广泛应用于大学、科研院所、医院、政府机构以及行业的研究实验室。我们的实习生通过使用这种仪器获得的技能将使他们对使用这种设备的广泛雇主具有吸引力。*****

The requested Molecular and Cellular Analyzer is a cutting-edge, automated flow cytometer, designed to quantitate properties of single cells, one cell at a time. It can count tens of thousands of cells in less than a minute and at the same time measure cell size, cell granularity and the amounts of cell components such as DNA content and gene expression. This instrument is urgently needed to support our NSERC-funded Discovery research programs, which aims to investigate: 1) the function of proteins associated with promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies in oxidative DNA damage response and repair (Dr. Zhu's group); 2) the effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on human, non-human species and the environment (the group of Drs. Mothersill and Seymour); and 3) the role of bacterial genes that help the cell to adapt to sub-optimal growth environment (Dr. Schellhorn's group). The requested instrument will allow our research groups to measure: 1) the DNA content and the cell cycle profiles in cell lines derived from humans, fish and amphibians and 2) expression of fluorescent-labeled proteins in not only eukaryotic cell lines but also bacterial cells. Furthermore the automated nature of the requested flow cytometer will greatly reduce bias associated with manual analysis and enhance our research groups' efficiency. Currently there is no flow cytometer in the Department of Biology where we are affiliated. The requested flow cytometer will provide our research groups with new capabilities to conduct research that is currently not possible with the existing equipment in the Department of Biology. The flow cytometer is becoming the standard instrument in our research fields and thus it is also necessary that we acquire the requested flow cytometer to stay competitive. In addition, the requested flow cytometer will greatly benefit trainees (both undergraduate and graduate students), who will be the primary users in our research programs. The flow cytometer is widely used in research labs throughout universities, research institutes, hospitals, government agencies as well as industries. The skill our trainees acquire through the use of this instrument will make them attractive to a wide range of employers that utilize this equipment. *****