Acquisition of a Instant Imager Electronic Autoradiography System

这项提案是对Packard InstantImager电子放射自显影系统的请求，该系统可以直接在凝胶、印迹、薄层层析、组织切片或任何其他高达20×24 cm2的平板样品上以电子方式定位和测量放射性。该仪器将直接实时测量崩解，不再需要X射线胶片或存储荧光屏。波士顿大学生物化学系是一个大型的多方面的教学和研究部门。大多数成员从事分子和/或细胞生物化学的基础研究。通常，这项研究需要放射性标记技术才能检测到少量的生物相关分子。放射性标记的蛋白质、RNA、DNA和脂质通常通过凝胶电泳或薄层层析分离，并通过使用X射线胶片的放射自显影进行可视化。X射线胶片放射自显影具有灵敏度低、线性范围小等明显缺点，使定量分析变得困难和费力。通常情况下，样品需要连夜或更长时间的暴露。为了检测同一凝胶上丰度较高和丰度较低的分子，通常需要多次曝光。当定量至关重要时，大多数研究人员会将放射性标记的物质从固体载体上移除，以便在通过X射线胶片显影后使用闪烁计数器测量崩解。最近的技术进步使替代仪器可以在更短的时间内以更高的灵敏度定位和直接测量平板样品上的放射性。该仪器将有助于研究工作，并将在几门课程中用作教授有关放射性测量的基本知识的仪器。

This proposal is a request for a Packard InstantImager Electronic Autoradiography System which electronically locates and measures radioactivity directly on gels, blots, thin layer chromatography, tissue slices, or any other flat samples up to 20 X 24 cm2. This instrument will directly measure in real time disintegrations eliminating the need for either X-ray film or storage phosphor screens. The Boston University biochemistry department is a large multifaceted teaching and research department. Most members perform basic research in molecular and/or cellular biochemistry. Usually this research requires radiolabeling techniques in order to detect small amounts of biologically relevant molecules. Radiolabeled proteins, RNA, DNA and lipids are often separated by gel electrophoresis or thin layer chromatography and visualized by autoradiography using X-ray film. X-ray film autoradiography has distinct disadvantages such as low sensitivity and small linear range making quantitative analysis difficult and laborious. Typically, samples need to be exposed overnight or longer. Often multiple exposures are necessary in order to detect both high and low abundant molecules on the same gel. Most researchers, when quantitation is critical, remove radiolabeled material from solid supports in order to measure disintegration using a scintillation counter after visualization by X-ray film. Recent advances in technology are making alternate instruments available to locate and directly measure radioactivity on flat samples with more sensitivity in far less time. The instrument will help research efforts and will be used in several courses as an instrument to teach essentials regarding radioactivity measurements.