MRI: Acquisition of a Microscope-based, Spectrofluorometer

本笃会大学的教职员工和学生研究人员将使用荧光分光显微镜/显微镜系统来启动项目，这些项目涉及检测分子的荧光状态随其化学环境的快速变化。这项工作使研究人员能够利用高科技仪器在不损害细胞的情况下获得细胞生理和信号的实时测量，从而研究生理学、分子生物学和生物化学领域的当代问题。本科生，包括那些来自代表性不足的背景的人，有机会参与研究，为职业或研究生院奠定坚实的基础。这项工作还支持一个包括职前和K-8在职教师在内的实习计划，使他们能够第一手学习科学研究和成就的兴奋，然后带给下一代学生。本尼迪克廷大学生物和化学系的研究人员将利用光谱荧光系统推进他们在四个生物化学项目中的科研计划：(1)调节细胞旁通透性和上皮细胞中的离子传输；(2)破骨细胞中金属的抗雌激素作用；(3)G蛋白信号的结构/功能特性；(4)荧光共振能量转移(FRET)监控的噬菌体展示系统，用于靶向信号蛋白。通过促进本笃会的跨学科工作，这些项目通过提供接触细胞生物学和化学的经典和最新技术，例如在Capstone生物化学和分子生物学细胞实验室，共同提高学生的能力。学生获得第一手经验和机会，通过广泛的规划、数据分析和报告进行原创科学，这可能会导致新的发现。这些项目有助于将科学过程和定量推理与本笃会的课程相结合。

Benedictine University faculty and student researchers will use the spectrofluorometer/microscope system to initiate projects that involve the detection of rapid changes in the fluorescence state of molecules in response to their chemical environments. This work allows researchers to investigate contemporary issues in the fields of physiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry by using high-tech instrumentation to acquire real-time measures of cell physiology and signaling without damaging the cells. Undergraduates, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, have the opportunity to participate in research and gain a solid foundation for careers or graduate school. This work also supports an internship program involving both pre-service and K-8 in-service teachers, enabling them to learn first-hand the excitement of investigation and achievement in science that they then bring to the next generation of students. Researchers in the biology and chemistry departments at Benedictine University will use the spectrofluorescence system to advance their scientific research programs in four biochemistry projects: (1) Regulation of paracellular permeability and ion transport in epithelial cells; (2) Anti-estrogenic effects of metals in osteoclasts; (3) Structure/function properties of G-protein signaling; (4) Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-monitored phage display system for the targeting of signal proteins. By promoting interdisciplinary work at Benedictine, these projects together improve the competencies of students by providing access to classical and state-of-the-art techniques in cellular biology and chemistry, such as in the capstone biochemistry and molecular biology cell laboratory. Students gain first-hand experiences and opportunities to conduct original science, with extensive planning, data analysis and reporting, that can potentially lead to new discoveries. The projects contribute to the integration of science processes and quantitative reasoning with Benedictine's curriculum.