Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer with Microscope Interface

该奖项支持购买与荧光显微镜接口的荧光光谱仪。该系统的分辨率将达到纳秒级。计划的用途包括测量高灵敏度和宽范围的激发和发射波长的荧光；长寿命发光的光谱和寿命测量；以及化学和细胞样品的荧光各向异性的时间分辨测量。该光谱仪将满足来自四个大学系的九个用户的研究需求，他们都在nsf支持的领域进行研究。将利用该仪器的研究项目包括研究水在生物界面上的运动，来自拟南芥的微管运动蛋白的调节，黄体生成素受体的组织，以及控制黄体酮分泌的分子机制。该仪器还将用于开发检测弱磁场的光学策略，并用于改进测量膜中分子旋转的方法。设备的共享使用将促进不同领域研究人员之间的互动和合作，并将通过在特定的本科和研究生课程中使用来促进教学、培训和学习。此外，研究人员计划将仪器使用的结果纳入各种正式和非正式的活动，向各种受众传播有关现代科学的信息。

This award supports the purchase of a fluorescence spectrometer interfaced with a fluorescence microscope. The system will be capable of nanosecond resolution. Planned uses include measurements of fluorescence with high sensitivity and over wide ranges of excitation and emission wavelengths; spectral and lifetime measurements on long-lived luminescence; and time-resolved measurements of fluorescence anisotropy of chemical and cellular samples. The spectrometer will serve the research needs of nine users from a total of four University departments, all of whom conduct research in NSF-supported areas. Research projects that will take advantage of the instrument include studies of the motion of water at biological interfaces, of the regulation of a microtubule motor protein from Arabidopsis, of the organization of luteinizing hormone receptors, and of molecular mechanisms controlling progesterone secretion. The instrument will also be used to develop optical strategies for detecting weak magnetic fields and for improvement of methods for measuring molecular rotation in membranes. The shared use of the equipment will facilitate interaction and collaboration between researchers in diverse fields, and will also promote teaching, training and learning through use in specific undergraduate and graduate courses. In addition, the researchers plan to incorporate the results of instrument use into a variety of formal and informal activities that disseminate information about modern science to various audiences.