CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE FACILITY

由波士顿生物医学研究所的10名主要研究人员及其研究人员组成的用户组正在向Bio-Rad实验室申请一台Radiance Plus共聚焦显微镜。这些研究人员正在开展各种各样的研究项目，包括：平滑肌中各种蛋白质的结构功能关系，完整细胞中信号转导途径的确定，分子马达与细胞内细胞器的相互作用，非常规肌球蛋白异构体的研究，心肌细胞中的钙信号传导和活细胞中β -淀粉样蛋白的动力学。该仪器将用于细胞中蛋白质的高分辨率定位、定量图像分析、高空间精度的共定位分析、确认多肽和寡核苷酸在多细胞组织中的均匀细胞负载以及细胞荧光共振能量转移。这些应用都不能满足标准的荧光显微镜。由于研究所于2000年1月搬迁到更大的宿舍，现有的共聚焦器将不再可用，它可以收集初步数据，因此迫切需要取代它。所要求的仪器将安置在研究所的核心设施内，并由研究所所长兼高级科学家凯瑟琳·摩根博士监督；辛西娅·加兰特女士将担任指定接线员；Gary Henry先生将负责计算机相关问题，包括图像处理、图像传输和计算机维修。预计brbri的研究项目将几乎完全占用可用的仪器时间；然而，其他研究机构的科学家也将在可用的基础上获得访问权，优先考虑NIH资助的研究人员。

A user group consisting of 10 principal investigators and their research staff at the Boston Biomedical Research Institute is requesting a Radiance Plus Confocal Microscope from Bio-Rad Laboratories. These investigators are conducting a diversity of research projects including: structure function relationships of various proteins in smooth muscle, the determination of signal transduction pathways in intact cells, the interaction of molecular motors with intracellular organelles, the study of non-conventional myosin isoforms, calcium signaling in cardiac muscle cells and the dynamics of beta-amyloid in living cells. The requested instrument will be used for high resolution localization of proteins in cells, quantitative image analysis, colocalization analysis with high spatial accuracy, confirmation of uniform cellular loading of peptides and oligonucleotides into multicellular tissues and cellular fluorescence resonance energy transfer. None of these applications can be satisfied by a standard fluorescence microscope. Due to relocation of the Institute in January 2000, into larger quarters, an existing confocal, which has allowed the collection of preliminary data, will no longer be available and its replacement is urgently needed. The requested instrument will be housed in the Institute's core facility and will be supervised by Dr. Kathleen Morgan, the Director of the Institute and a Senior Scientist; Ms. Cynthia Gallant will be the designated operator; Mr. Gary Henry will be responsible for computer related issues, including image handling, image transfer and computer repair. It is anticipated that research projects at BBRI will almost fully occupy the available instrument time; however, scientists from other research institutions will also be given access on an availability basis, giving preference to NIH funded investigators.