A state-of-the-art microplate reader for research in endocrine toxicology and cancer

分子设备公司的SpectraMax M5多检测微孔板读取器是一种高度通用的仪器，在毒理学研究中具有重要应用。它可以测量吸光度，荧光强度，偏振和时间分辨荧光，发光在6至384孔板格式，或在比色皿。它具有连续的光谱扫描和动力学能力，并包括一个复杂的分析软件包。该系统是提高内分泌毒理学课题组工作水平和提高工作效率所必需的。（共同）申请者的不同研究活动包括细胞毒性机制的研究、mRNA的表达、DNA的分析（所有申请者）、催化酶活性的测量（T Sanderson）、蛋白质的检测和鉴定（C Vaillancourt, D Cyr）、类固醇激素（T Sanderson）、神经递质（C Vaillancourt）和细胞因子（D Girard）信号通路的阐明，这些信号通路涉及内分泌紊乱和炎症。要么是化学物质，要么是疾病或衰老。在高度相互依赖的免疫-神经-内分泌信号系统中，要很好地理解第二信使、各种蛋白激酶和许多其他蛋白-蛋白相互作用的身份和行为，需要一个敏感、通用和高通量的微孔板阅读器。Molecular Devices开发了独特的技术，促进了信号通路的研究，例如CatchPoint（用于检测cAMP/GMP）和IMAP（用于测量各种蛋白激酶活性），这些检测需要高度敏感的极化和时间分辨荧光能力。该仪器也非常适合使用各种ELISA方法对蛋白质、细胞因子和半胱天冬酶进行灵敏、快速的定量检测。该仪器对于测量从荧光素酶转染的转基因小鼠中分离的器官的发光是必不可少的，这些小鼠被设计用于研究类固醇激素信号传导和类固醇酶调节，该项目目前由主要申请人（T Sanderson）的NSERC发现资助。

The SpectraMax M5 multi-detection microplate reader from Molecular Devices is a highly versatile instrument with important applications in toxicological research. It can measure absorbance, fluorescence intensity, polarized and time-resolved fluorescence, and luminescence in 6- to 384-well plate formats, or in cuvettes. It has continuous spectral scanning and kinetic capabilities and includes a sophisticated analysis software package. This system is necessary for the advancement and increased efficiency of the endocrine toxicology research group at our institute INRS-IAF. The diverse research activities of the (co-)applicants cover the study of mechanisms of cell toxicity, expression of mRNA, analysis of DNA (all applicants), measurement of catalytic enzyme activities (T Sanderson), detection and identification of proteins (C Vaillancourt, D Cyr), and the elucidation of steroid hormone- (T Sanderson), neurotransmitter- (C Vaillancourt) and cytokine- (D Girard) signalling pathways involved in endocrine disturbances and inflammation, either by chemicals or due to disease or aging. A good understanding of the identity and behaviour of second messengers, various protein kinases, and numerous other protein-protein interactions involved in the highly interdependent immuno-neuro-endocrine signalling system requires a sensitive, versatile and high-throughput microplate reader. Molecular Devices has developed unique technology facilitating the study of signalling pathways, such as CatchPoint (for detection of cAMP/GMP) and IMAP (for the measurement of various protein kinase activities), which are assays that require highly sensitive polarized and time-resolved fluorescence capabilities. The requested instrument is also highly suitable for the sensitive and rapid quantitative detection of proteins, cytokines, and caspases, using various ELISA methods. The instrument is further essential for the measurement of luminescence in organs isolated from luciferase-transfected transgenic mice designed for the study of steroid hormone-signalling and steroid enzyme-regulation, a project currently funded by the NSERC discovery grant of the main applicant (T Sanderson).