Fluorescence imaging system

我们三个实验室的研究项目经常使用荧光显微镜作为工具来分析基因表达、蛋白质定位、监测植物转化、评估DNA损伤以及细胞增殖和凋亡的相关变化。目前，这类实验需要使用神经科学系的荧光成像相机。这种显微镜被大量使用，我们接触它的机会有限，影响了实验的及时完成。在舒尔茨研究计划的这一点上，我们关于分子水平上的基因功能的假设可以通过使用荧光标签建立蛋白质定位来非常直接地测试。要实现这一点，我们必须经常和不受限制地使用荧光成像系统。在分析发育过程中的基因或蛋白质表达时，可获得性尤其关键，因为实验需要在植物发育期间每隔12小时连续观察一次，或在化学处理后每隔0.5小时进行一次连续观察。我有一台尼康E600荧光显微镜，配备了差分干涉对比和相位对比，我在2000年获得了省级资助。虽然它满足了我们实验室的所有显微镜要求，但它只配备了CoolPix995相机，其灵敏度不足以捕捉荧光图像。此外，我们没有任何图像分析软件，用于合并图像和量化不同条件下基因或蛋白质的表达水平。这些能力对我们的研究项目至关重要，因此我们正在申请资金，为我的尼康E600荧光显微镜购买荧光成像系统。

The research programs of our three laboratories routinely use fluorescence microscopy as a tool to analyze gene expression, protein localization, monitor plant transformation, assess DNA damage and associated changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Currently, such experiments require the use of a fluorescence imaging camera in the Department of Neuroscience. This microscope is heavily used and our access to it is limited, compromising the timely completion of experiments. At this point in the Schultz research program, our hypotheses for gene function at the molecular level can be tested quite directly by establishing protein localization using fluorescent tags.  To accomplish this, we must have frequent and unlimited access to a fluorescent imaging system.   Accessibility is especially critical in the analysis of gene or protein expression during development, since experiments require sequential observations at 12 hour intervals of plants through developmental time, or at 0.5 hour intervals following chemical treatment. I have a NIKON E600 fluorescence microscope equipped with differential interference contrast and phase contrast for which I received provincial funding in 2000.  While it satisfies all the microscopic requirements of our laboratories, it is equipped only with a Coolpix995 camera, which is not sufficiently sensitive to capture fluorescence images.  Moreover, we do not have any of the image analysis software required for merging images and quantifying levels of gene or protein expression under different conditions. These capabilities are critical to our research programs, therefore we are requesting funds to purchase a fluorescence imaging system for my NIKON E600 fluorescence microscope.