Electron Microscope for a Multi-User Core Facility

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案要求资金购买一台Tecnai Spirit 120-kV电子显微镜，用于高对比度和高通量常规成像。新仪器将被安置在多学科电子显微镜（EM）设施中。这个核心设施目前拥有一台中压300千伏的FEI Tecnai F30透射电子显微镜，非常适合物理科学应用和电子断层扫描。然而，对于生物科学部生物医学研究人员的日常需求来说，F30远非最佳选择，原因如下：(1)虽然高加速电压使F30适用于高分辨率结构分析和厚切片分析，但传统生物材料的薄切片EM对比度不太理想。(2) F30在高真空下工作，每次更换样品之间需要3-5分钟的停机时间。当检查多个样本时，累积延迟变得很大。(3) F30是一个非常复杂和微妙的仪器，并授权使用F30需要广泛的8至10小时的培训课程。因此，许多调查人员要么在正常工作时间依赖设施专家的协助，要么完全放弃电子显微镜分析。(4) F30被物理科学家和收集层析成像数据集的生物学家长期占据。因此，常规影像学检查通常是困难的。收购Tecnai Spirit将克服这些限制。这

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funds to purchase a Tecnai Spirit 120-kV electron microscope for high-contrast and high-throughput routine imaging. The new instrument will be housed in the multi-disciplinary Electron Microscopy (EM) Facility. This core facility currently houses an intermediate-voltage 300-kV FEI Tecnai F30 transmission electron microscope, which is well suited to physical science applications and to electron tomography. However, for the routine needs of biomedical researchers in the Biological Sciences Division, the F30 is far from optimal for the following reasons. (1) Although the high accelerating voltage makes the F30 suitable for high-resolution structural analysis and for analyzing thick sections, the contrast is less than ideal for traditional thin-section EM of biological material. (2) The F30 operates with a high vacuum, and requires 3-5 minutes of down time between each change of samples. When multiple samples are being examined, the cumulative delay becomes substantial. (3) The F30 is a very complex and delicate instrument, and authorization to use the F30 requires an extensive 8- to 10-hr training session. As a result, many investigators either rely on assistance from facility experts during regular business hours, or forgo EM analysis entirely. (4) The F30 is occupied for long periods by physical scientists, and by biologists who are collecting tomographic data sets. Therefore, access for routine imaging is often difficult. Acquisition of the Tecnai Spirit will overcome these limitations. This instrument is ideally suited to high-contrast imaging of biological thin sections. Sample exchange can be performed rapidly, enabling high-throughput analyses. The Tecnai Spirit is relatively simple and robust, and researchers can be readily trained to operate this instrument themselves. Availability of a high-quality microscope for routine EM of biological samples will particularly benefit NIH-funded research programs. The Biological Sciences Division at University of Chicago employs many investigators who use EM. Research topics range from basic cell biology and microbiology to studies of diabetes and asthma. The Division invests major resources in establishing and maintaining core facilities that support cutting-edge science. Acquisition of the Tecnai Spirit will help to ensure that the Electron Microscopy Facility meets this standard. This instrument will be managed by an accomplished and knowledgeable staff, and will be accessible to a broad range of researchers.