An Improved Aequorin Method.

这是一个建议，发展一种改进的水母发光蛋白方法， 测量细胞质钙水平。 水母发光蛋白是一种 从水母中提取的荧光蛋白质。 其 发光随着钙浓度的增加而迅速增加， 活细胞内发现的整个范围， 而不影响其功能或发育。 图案和 由装载水母发光蛋白的细胞发射的发光水平 用来揭示游离钙的变化模式和水平 在注射后的几天里 水母发光蛋白法比荧光染料法有几个优点 目前用于测量细胞质钙水平的技术。 然而，它需要改进，以充分发挥其潜力。 Jaffe博士将开发一种有效的成像系统， 利用受精的海胆将水母发光蛋白大量装载到细胞中 卵、网骨藻细胞和其他细胞。 如果成功，改进的水母发光蛋白方法将增加我们的 准确测量细胞质钙水平的能力， 将有助于更好地了解许多细胞， 与钙有关的发育过程。

This is a proposal to develop an improved aequorin method of measuring cytoplasmic calcium levels. Aequorin is a chemiluminescent protein extracted rom a jellyfish. Its luminescence increases rapidly with calcium concentration over the whole range found within living cells and it can be injected without disturbing their function or development. The pattern and level of luminescence which is emitted by an aequorin-loaded cell serves to reveal the changing patterns and levels of free calcium within this cell for days after injection. The aequorin method has several advantages over fluorescent dye techniques currently used for measuring cytoplasmic calcium levels. However, it requires improving for it to reach its full potential. Dr. Jaffe will develop an efficient imaging system and a way for mass loading of aequorin into cells, using fertilized sea urchin eggs, Dictyostelium cells, and other cells. If successful, the improved aequorin method will increase our ability to accurately measure the cytoplasmic calcium levels and will contribute to better understanding of many cell and developmental processes that involve calcium.