Acquisition of an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis System and Confocal Microscope for an Interdisciplinary Microscopy-Imagery Center in Biology, Chemistry & Geology at St. Lawr

纽约州坎顿市圣劳伦斯大学的Thomas W.Budd博士获得了一笔赠款，用于购买两台主要仪器，这两台仪器将补充和扩大显微镜研究的机会，并使在科学设施综合体内创建一个跨学科、多用户的显微成像中心成为可能。将获得的仪器包括：1.将弥合电子显微镜和荧光显微镜之间分辨率差距的共聚焦显微镜系统。该仪器将允许对荧光图像进行光学切片和三维重建，比传统的荧光显微镜具有更好的分辨率和更广泛的染料选择。2.一种安装在现有扫描电子显微镜(SEM)上的能量色散X射线分析(EDAX)系统。该系统允许对适用于生物、化学、环境研究和地质研究的各种研究样本进行元素分析和空间元素测绘。作为研究项目的一部分，圣劳伦斯大学的几名理科教员正准备用这些仪器指导学生项目。巴德博士(生物学和PI)计划使用共聚焦显微镜在体外三维绘制胶质神经型细胞表面和内部的蛋白质图，这是他研究用于研究骨形成的组织培养细胞的一部分。他将通过使用扫描电子显微镜-EDAX测绘程序来确认3-D共焦结果。Marano博士(化学)将使用共聚焦显微镜来检测和绘制T淋巴细胞表面的特殊膜“域”的成分。这些结构域与免疫反应过程中的基因调控有关。Erlichman博士(生物学)将使用共聚焦显微镜三维绘制调节哺乳动物呼吸的对pH敏感的神经元表面膜上的钠/氢交换运输系统。Erickson博士(地质学)将使用SEM-EDAX元素分析和绘图来研究文蛤石化的序列和生物地球化学。其他几名圣劳伦斯大学的教职员工也准备在他们的研究项目中使用这些新仪器，所有这些都需要学生的积极参与。这个奖项将极大地促进圣劳伦斯大学科学系的教职员工和学生的研究活动，并为生物化学和神经科学的两个新专业提供仪器支持。作为一所小型的私立文科本科院校，获得最先进的仪器设备往往是有限的。所要求的仪器将使我们能够更好地培训下一代科学家。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Thomas W. Budd at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York to acquire two major instruments that will complement and expand opportunities for microscopic studies and enable the creation of an Interdisciplinary, Multi-User Microscopy-Imagery Center within the science facilities complex. The instruments to be acquired are: 1. A confocal microscope system that will bridge the resolution gap between electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. This instrument will allow optical sectioning and 3-D reconstructions of fluorescent images with much better resolution and a wider selection of dyes than conventional fluorescence microscopes. 2. An Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX) system to be fitted onto an existing scanning electron microscope (SEM). This system allows elemental analysis and spatial elemental mapping of a wide variety of research specimens applicable to biology, chemistry, environmental studies, and geology research. Several St. Lawrence science faculty are poised to direct student projects with these instruments as part of their research programs. Dr. T. Budd (biology and PI) plans to use confocal microscopy to three-dimensionally map proteins on the surface and inside of glial-neural type cells in vitro as part of his research to characterize tissue cultured cells used to study bone formation. He will confirm the 3-D confocal results by using SEM-EDAX mapping routines. Dr. Marano (chemistry) will use confocal microscopy to detect and map the components of specialized membrane "domains" on the surface of T-lymphocytes. These domains have been implicated in gene regulation during immune responses. Dr. Erlichman (biology) will use confocal microscopy to three-dimensionally map sodium/hydrogen exchange transport systems in the surface membranes of pH sensitive neurons that regulate breathing in mammals. Dr. Erickson (geology) will use SEM-EDAX elemental analysis and mapping to study the sequence and biogeochemistry of fossilization of clams. Several other St. Lawrence faculty are also poised to use the new instruments in their research programs, all of which involve active participation by students.This award will greatly enhance faculty and student research activity in the science departments at St. Lawrence, as well as provide instrumentation support for two new majors in biochemistry and neuroscience. As a small, private liberal arts undergraduate institution, access to state-of-the-art instrumentation is often limited. The instruments requested will enable us to better train the next generation of scientists.