Acquisition of Electrophysiology Patch-Clamp Equipment to Support Cross-Disciplinary Research and Undergraduate Research Training

这笔赠款将使建立一个电生理学实验室的设备所需的全细胞电压和电流钳记录和单通道记录在培养的细胞和组织。 四位卡尔文学院教授，沿着本科研究助理，将分享设备，从事四个研究项目。 [1]视网膜对比度适应：Loren Haarsma（物理学）。[2]Rho GTP酶和神经元分化：Stephen Matheson（生物学）。[3]Probst bundles：Paul Moes（Psychology）. [4]泪腺中的导管细胞：John Ubels（生物学）。使用这种仪器进行的一些研究将有助于我们对神经元前体细胞发育成成熟的专门神经细胞时发生的复杂生化事件链的了解。 其他研究是更大努力的一部分，以了解视网膜如何将光信号转换为大脑解释的电信号。 此外，对比度适应只是神经细胞适应二阶信号统计（例如平均值周围的变化）的一个例子。 理解视网膜中的这些机制可能对大脑其他区域的类似适应具有更广泛的意义。 所有这些跨学科的研究项目将包括本科生的研究培训。此外，作为大急流城地区的第一个膜片钳装置，它将为新用户和来自地区教育机构和货车安德尔研究所的现有合作者提供服务，设备的寿命和有用性将远远超过三年的提案期。

This grant will enable the creation of an electrophysiology laboratory with equipment necessary for whole-cell voltage- and current-clamp recording and single-channel recording in cultured cells and tissues. Four Calvin College professors, along with undergraduate research assistants, will share the equipment to work on four research projects. [1] Retinal contrast adaptation: Loren Haarsma (Physics). [2] Rho GTPases and neuronal differentiation: Stephen Matheson (Biology). [3] Probst bundles: Paul Moes (Psychology). [4] Duct cells in the lacrimal gland: John Ubels (Biology). Some of the research with this instrumentation will contribute to our growing knowledge of the complex chain of biochemical events that occur when neuronal precursor cells develop into full-fledged, specialized nerve cells. Other research is part of a larger effort to understand how the retina converts light signals into electrical signals interpreted by the brain. In addition, contrast adaptation is just one example of nerve cells adapting to second-order signal statistics (e.g. variation around the mean). Understanding these mechanisms in the retina could have broader implications for similar adaptation in other areas of the brain. All of these interdisciplinary research projects will include research training of undergraduate students. In addition, as the first patch-clamp rig in the Grand Rapids area, it will serve new users and existing collaborators from area educational institutions and the Van Andel Research Institute, with the life and usefulness of the equipment extending well beyond the three-year proposal period.