Acquisition of an imaging platform for proteins and nucleic acids

为了了解微生物复制和细胞分化等基本生物过程的机制，能够有效和可靠地对蛋白质和核酸样品进行定性和定量分析是至关重要的。例如，为了跟踪细胞信号事件，通常需要量化翻译后修饰，如磷酸化和泛素化。免疫印迹是研究这种修饰的标准方法；然而，为了获得高质量的数据，需要凝胶文档系统来有效地获取可以进行统计分析的定量数据。此外，经常有必要评估特定蛋白质的全球水平和特定修饰形式的水平，以及负荷控制的水平。除了蛋白质检测，用琼脂糖凝胶或丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法解析的核酸成像和分析构成了分子生物学的支柱。这项提议是购买一个蛋白质和核酸的生物成像系统，以支持在12个微生物学和免疫学研究实验室的展馆内开展生物科学的基础研究项目。所要求的蛋白质成像模块是一种最先进的激光扫描仪模块，具有多重荧光成像和化学发光成像的能力。它将与一个工作模块相辅相成，以支持使用标准荧光染色进行常规核酸成像和数据分析。该系统将在装有图像采集和分析专有软件的计算机上运行。将包括多个软件许可证，以确保受训人员可以在各自的工作站上分析数据，因此成像系统的使用将保留为数据采集。由于过时的软件和计算机操作系统无法更新，展馆内的核酸成像仪已超过其使用寿命，因此迫切需要这一系统。此外，为了进行免疫印迹实验，展馆的研究人员目前依赖于一家有数十年历史的胶片显影剂，几年来一直不可能订购更换部件。获得一台生物分子扫描仪，使研究人员能够进行多重免疫印迹，将提供比展馆现有基础设施可能提供的更高质量的数据。它还将确保受训者获得研究经验，在他们的实验中使用最先进的方法对特定蛋白质和核酸进行定量分析，同时纳入以视觉格式包容地展示数据的最佳做法，以便尽可能多的视力不同的人能够访问这些数据。

To understand the mechanisms underlying fundamental biological processes such as microbial replication and cell differentiation, it is essential to be able to efficiently and reliably analyze samples of proteins and nucleic acids, both qualitatively and quantitatively. For example, to follow cell signaling events it is often necessary to quantify posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination. Immunoblotting is a standard approach for studying such modifications; however, to obtain high quality data, gel documentation systems are required for efficient acquisition of quantitative data that can be subjected to statistical analyses. Moreover, it is often necessary to assess both the global levels of a particular protein and levels of a specific modified form, as well as levels of loading controls. In addition to protein detection, the imaging and analysis of nucleic acids that are resolved using agarose or acrylamide gel electrophoresis form the backbone of molecular biology. This proposal is to acquire a bioimaging system for proteins and nucleic acids to support fundamental research programs in the biological sciences in a pavilion for 12 laboratories in microbiology and immunology research. The requested imaging module for proteins is a state-of-the art laser scanner module with the capacity for multiplex fluorescence imaging and chemiluminescence imaging. It will be complemented with a work-horse module to support routine nucleic acid imaging and data analysis using standard fluorescent stains. The system will be operated from a computer with proprietary software for image acquisition and analysis. Multiple software licenses will be included to ensure trainees can analyze data at their respective workstation, and thus use of the imaging system will be reserved for data acquisition. There is an urgent need for this system as the nucleic acid imager in the pavilion is past its useful life, due to outdated software and computer operating systems that cannot be updated. Moreover, for immunoblot experiments researchers in the pavilion are presently relying on a decades old film developer for which it has been impossible to order replacement parts for several years. The acquisition of a biomolecular scanner that allows researchers to conduct multiplex immunoblotting will provide higher quality data than is possible with the present infrastructure in the pavilion. It will also ensure that trainees acquire research experience using state-of-the-art approaches to quantitatively analyze specific proteins and nucleic acids in the context of their experiments, while incorporating best practices for the inclusive presentation of data in visual format, so that as many individuals as possible with vision differences can access the data.