MULTIFREQUENCY PHASE AND MODULATION FLUOROMETER

最先进的荧光测量仪器 寿命和相关参数的相移法， 所请求 与现有的过时的脉冲激励相比， 仪器，所要求的仪器在其性能方面是上级的 灵敏度，光谱和时间分辨率，光学设计， 极化测量和数据分析软件。 的 仪器将由一组研究人员使用， 利用荧光技术研究肌肉的各个方面 收缩及其调节以及与收缩有关的问题 眼睛的透镜的性质。 这些项目以肌肉为中心 包括储存在ATP中的化学能被 转换成机械能的机制， 心肌和平滑肌由释放到心肌中的Ca 2+调节。 神经刺激后的肌浆，以及 Ca 2+在肌肉生长过程中返回肌浆网 放松;眼睛相关的工作涉及发生在 眼组织的成分（玻璃体。透镜）。 所要求的仪器将加强我们在以下方面的研究工作： 以下类型的研究：1）荧光光谱和寿命 测量以定义和监测蛋白质构象状态。 2)共振能量转移测量，以绘制接近度 每个蛋白质中的位点之间的关系。 3)各向异性衰减 测量研究的形状和节段的灵活性， 蛋白 4)溶质淬灭测量，以检查 蛋白质之间的相互作用。 信息来源于这些 和其他方法将提供在分子水平上的理解， 骨骼肌横纹肌功能水平 系统和心脏，以及内部平滑肌 器官和血管系统。 同样，关于 眼睛大分子成分的变化将有助于 阐明正常和病理过程，特别是 辐射引起的。

A state-of-the-art instrument for the measurement of fluorescence lifetime and related parameters by the phase-shift method is requested. In comparison to an existing outdated pulse-excitation instrument, the requested instrument is superior in its sensitivity, spectral and temporal resolution, optical design for polarized measurements and software for data analyses. The instrument will be used by a group of investigators who have been using fluorescence techniques to study various aspects of muscle contraction and its regulation and problems related to the properties of the lens of the eye. The projects centered on muscle include the mechanism whereby chemical energy stored in ATP is transduced into mechanical energy the mechanism whereby skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles are regulated by the Ca2+ released into the sarcoplasm upon neural stimulation, and the mechanism whereby Ca2+ is returned into the sarcoplasmic reticulum during muscle relaxation; eye related work deals with changes occurring in components of eye tissues (vitreous. lens) upon photo-oxidation. The requested instrument will enhance our research effort in the following types of studies: 1) Fluorescence spectrum and lifetime measurements to define and monitor protein conformational states. 2) Resonance energy transfer measurements to map the proximity relationships between sites in each protein. 3) Anisotropy decay measurements to study the shape and segmental flexibility of each protein. 4) Solute quenching measurements to examine the mode of interactions between the proteins. Information derived from these and other approaches will provide an understanding at the molecular level of the functioning of the striated muscle of the skeletal system and the heart, as well as of smooth muscles in internal organs and the vascular system. Similarly, information about changes in macromolecular components of the eye will help in the elucidation of normal and pathological processes, particularly those induced by radiation.