A Phosphorimager for Molecular Biology Research and Teaching

这项申请是为了筹集资金购买一台分子动力学磷光成像仪，用于分子生物学的研究和教学。这种仪器将对至少八名教师的研究应用以及在分子生物学方面培训本科生和研究生至关重要。与传统的检测方法相比，使用存储荧光粉技术的放射自显影具有几个优点。凝胶或滤光片上放射性蛋白质或DNA的定量传统上是使用X射线胶片和密度测量法或使用闪烁计数器来完成的。存储荧光粉的灵敏度高达X射线胶片的100倍，使测量远低于胶片的检测水平。此外，屏幕的定量精度超过五个数量级，而X射线胶片的线性范围只有两个数量级。这项新技术对环境也是有利的，因为它消除了与胶片处理相关的重金属废物处理问题，当它取代闪烁计数时，它减少了混合有机和放射化学废物的处理问题。这项技术将使新的实验方法成为可能，改善量化，提高生产率，并将为我们的学生提供最先进的培训。

This request is for funds to purchase a Molecular Dynamics PhosphorImager for use in research and teaching in molecular biology. This instrument will be critical for research applications of at least eight faculty as well as in training undergraduate and graduate students in molecular biology. Autoradiography using storage phosphor technology offers several advantages over traditional detection methods. Quantitation of amounts of radioactive protein or DNA on gels or filters has traditionally been done using X- ray film and densitometry or using scintillation counters. Storage phosphors are up to 100 times more sensitive than X-ray film, enabling measurements well below levels of detection for film. Also, screens are quantitatively accurate over five orders of magnitude as compared to X-ray film which has a linear range over only two orders of magnitude. The new technology is also environmentally advantageous because it eliminates the heavy metal waste disposal problems associated with film processing, and when it replaces scintillation counting it reduces mixed organic and radiochemical waste disposal problems. This technology will enable new experimental approaches, improve quantitation, enhance productivity, and it will afford our students state of the art training.