Scanning Electron Microscope for Core EM Facility

描述（由申请人提供）：我们申请资金购买一台FEI Quanta 200场发射扫描电子显微镜（FESEM）和一台Gatan Model 681离子束溅射镀膜机。显微镜和溅射镀膜机将满足马萨诸塞大学医学院9个主要用户和3个次要用户的扫描电子显微镜需求。该显微镜将被安置在医学院的核心电子显微镜设施中，并将取代唯一可用的其他仪器-一台过时的30年历史的扫描电镜，该仪器大部分时间都在使用，缺乏关键功能，并且由于其年龄和备件不可用而无法修复。离子束溅射镀膜机将取代已有15年历史的传统溅射镀膜机，并需要提供高分辨率研究所需的细颗粒涂层。将使用扫描电镜的项目包括研究参与免疫识别的细胞表面受体的功能、纤毛的发育和功能、正常和患病骨骼的结构、小鼠和果蝇中信号和其他蛋白质突变的结构变化，以及参与细菌感染的细胞表面结构。这些项目需要FESEM有两个主要目的——高分辨率的细胞表面结构成像，以及通过免疫FESEM检测和定位特定的细胞表面抗原。这些图像将为了解细胞发育、功能、感染和疾病的机制提供重要的见解。除了这项拨款的使用者之外，医学院还有大约20名其他研究人员，如果我们有一台功能正常的仪器，他们会使用扫描电镜。为了满足这一需求，配备场发射枪的最先进的扫描电镜已经变得必不可少。它将改变研究人员进行扫描电镜相关研究的能力，它将大大提高数据收集的质量和速度，它将使我们目前的仪器无法进行的观察成为可能。所有使用这种显微镜的项目都旨在提供对细胞结构和功能的基本见解。许多对人类疾病的理解有直接的影响。该工具提供的结果将在增进我们在这些领域的知识方面发挥关键作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We request funds for the purchase of an FEI Quanta 200 field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) together with a Gatan Model 681 ion beam sputter coater. The microscope and sputter coater will provide for the scanning electron microscopy needs of nine major and three minor users at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The microscope will be housed in the Core Electron Microscopy Facility of the Medical School, and will replace the only other instrument available - an obsolete 30-year old SEM that is out of service much of the time, lacks key capabilities, and is proving impossible to repair due to its age and the unavailability of spare parts. The ion beam sputter coater will replace a conventional 15-year old sputter coater and is required to provide the fine grain coatings needed for high resolution studies. The projects that will use SEM include studies of the functioning of cell surface receptors involved in immune recognition, the development and function of cilia, the structure of normal and diseased bone, structural changes in mutants of signaling and other proteins in mice and Drosophila, and cell surface structures involved in bacterial infection. These projects require FESEM for two main purposes - the imaging of cell surface structure at high resolution, and the detection and localization of specific cell surface antigens by immuno-FESEM. These images will provide essential insights into the mechanisms of cell development, function, infection, and disease. In addition to the users on this grant, there are approximately twenty other investigators at the medical school who would use SEM if we had a functioning instrument. A state-of-the-art SEM, with field emission gun, has become essential to meet this need. It will transform the ability of investigators to carry out their SEM-related studies, it will greatly improve the quality and speed of data collection, and it will make possible observations that are impossible on our current instrument. All of the projects that will use this microscope aim to provide fundamental insights into cellular structure and function. Many have a direct bearing on the understanding of human disease. Results provided by this instrument will play a key role in advancing our knowledge in these areas.