MRI: Acquisition of a Confocal Microscope for Multi-disciplinary Research and Teaching in the Central Michigan University Multi-user Microscopy Facility

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助的。中密歇根大学的生物系显微镜设施将从主要研究仪器计划获得一台激光扫描共聚焦显微镜。新仪器将具有更高的灵敏度、分辨率和扫描速度，使校园内更多、更多样化的研究人员能够进行共同定位研究，并增强荧光标记样本的三维重建。研究将从新仪器中受益的用户包括10名在发育生物学、细胞生物学、分子遗传学、神经科学和植物生物学领域工作的教职员工和他们的学生。该仪器的升级功能允许进行活细胞分析，以研究蠕虫老化卵中蛋白质定位的动态变化，以及对粘液霉菌中钙水平的响应。改进的图像采集和渲染软件还将允许更好地了解虾的肌肉和生殖细胞发育。更多的激光线路将加强几项研究，包括：酵母中对发酵抑制剂的反应的染色质结构，大鼠的干细胞分化和神经适应，以及玉米早期发育的调控。获得新的激光扫描共聚焦显微镜也将积极影响和扩大我们的本科生和研究生的培训机会。攻读生物学学士学位的显微镜专业的学生需要学习共焦显微镜这门必修课，他们将特别受益于一种新的、最先进的仪器。该项目的毕业生应该继续拥有在全国一流研究机构就业的良好记录。这一奖项的积极影响和成果将包括提高研究生产力和加强学生培训，并将在部门网站和同行评议的期刊上传播。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The Biology Department Microscopy Facility at Central Michigan University will acquire a Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope with this award from the Major Research Instrumentation program. The new instrument will have increased sensitivity, resolution, and scan speed to enable larger numbers and more diverse researchers across campus to conduct co-localization studies and enhanced 3-dimensional reconstructions of fluorescently-labeled samples. The users whose research will benefit from the new instrument include ten faculty and their students who work in the areas of developmental biology, cell biology, molecular genetics, neuroscience, and plant biology. The upgraded features of the instrument allow live-cell analyses required to study the dynamic changes in localization of proteins in both aging eggs in worms and in response to calcium levels in the slime mold. The improved image acquisition and rendering software will also allow for a better understanding of muscle and germ cell development in shrimp. Additional laser lines will enhance several studies including: chromatin structure in response to fermentation inhibitors in yeast, stem cell differentiation and neuroadaptation in rats, and regulation of early development in maize. Acquisition of the new laser scanning confocal microscope will also positively impact and expand the training opportunities of our undergraduate and graduate students. Students who pursue the Microscopy option of the B.S. degree in Biology take a required course in confocal microscopy and will particularly benefit from a new, state-of-the-art instrument. Program graduates should continue to have an excellent track record of job placements at premier research institutions across the country. Positive impacts and outcomes of this award will include increased research productivity and enhanced student training and will be disseminated on the departmental website and in peer reviewed journals.