CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE FOR CAMPUS EXPANSION: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

该子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的共享仪器赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是用于资助的，不一定是研究者的机构。描述（由申请人提供）：该提案要求为购买共享使用的共焦激光扫描显微镜蔡司LSM 510系统提供资金。该生物分析系统将为越来越多的北德克萨斯大学健康科学中心（UNTHSC）NIH资助的神经科学研究人员提供服务，这些研究人员最近搬到了新建的生物健康中心（CBH大楼），这是一个新的场外位置，是UNTHSC校园扩建的一部分。由于使用共聚焦显微镜进行研究的教师和学生人数大幅增加，联合国人类住区中心现有的一台共聚焦显微镜（位于RES大楼）的能力不足。此外，更重要的是，跨校园的新位置不允许大多数NIH资助的共聚焦显微镜研究人员有效地使用这项技术，因为他们的基于细胞和组织的测定和模型系统不耐受运输或暴露于与运输到远程共聚焦显微镜设施相关的条件。目前，在联合国人类住区中心的场外地点，在CBH，也没有共聚焦显微镜，也没有直接相邻的建筑物，使研究人员能够进行这种专门的数据采集。所要求的仪器将被安置在CBH 504的显微镜核心设施中，该设施位于中心位置，不仅允许所有用户从CBH大楼内直接访问，还允许所有主要用户在各自实验室附近直接访问。蔡司LSM 510系统是一种最先进的仪器，作为一种得到良好支持和建立的多用户仪器，具有良好的记录。它将满足目前和今后对先进成像日益增长的需求，并使联合国人类住区中心的教学技术现代化。目前CBH共聚焦显微镜的研究需求包括：1）测量活细胞中信号分子的亚细胞变化; 2）以常规荧光显微镜无法实现的分辨率对新鲜分离的细胞和组织进行光学切片; 3）确定低丰度蛋白随时间的分布，同时最小限度地影响细胞生理学; 4）阐明转基因细胞中蛋白质表达和运输的机制; 5）在体外和体内进行新型神经保护剂的构效关系分析。目前的应用程序将主要服务于主要研究人员周围的八个主要群体，这些群体由来自不同NIH研究所的同行评审赠款资助。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Shared Instrumentation Grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the grant, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposal requests funding for the acquisition of a shared-use confocal laser-scanning microscope, the Zeiss LSM 510 system. This bioanalytical system will serve an increasing community of NIH-funded neuroscience researchers at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) that have recently moved to the newly constructed Center for BioHealth (CBH building), a new off-site location that is part of a campus expansion of the UNTHSC. The capabilities of the one current confocal microscope at UNTHSC (located in the RES building) are insufficient due to the strong increase in the number of faculty and students using confocal microscopy for their research. In addition and more importantly, the new location across campus does not allow the majority of NIH-funded investigators of confocal microscopy to effectively use this technology, because their cell and tissue based assays and model systems do not tolerate transport or exposure to conditions associated with transport to a remotely located confocal microscopy facility. There is currently no confocal microscope at the off-site location at UNTHSC, in CBH, nor in a directly adjacent building that would allow researchers to perform this specialized data acquisition. The requested instrument will be housed in the microscopy core facility in CBH504, centrally located to allow all users direct access not only from within the CBH building but also for all major users adjacent to their respective laboratories. The Zeiss LSM 510 system, a state-of-the-art instrument, has a proven track record as a well-supported and established multi-user instrument. It will meet the current increased and future needs for advanced imaging, as well as modernize UNTHSC's teaching technology. Current research needs for a confocal microscope in CBH include: 1) measuring subcellular changes in signaling molecules in live cells; 2) optical sectioning of freshly isolated cells and tissue at a resolution that cannot be achieved with conventional fluorescence microscopy; 3) determining the distribution of low-abundance proteins over time while minimally affecting cell physiology; 4) elucidating mechanisms protein expression and trafficking in genetically modified cells; 5) conducting analyses of structure-activity relationships of novel neuroprotective agents in vitro and in vivo. The current application will primarily serve eight major groups around principal investigators that are extramurally funded by peer-reviewed grants from different NIH institutes.