High speed, high volume centrifuge

我们是西蒙弗雷泽大学化学系的四名研究人员和分子生物学和生化系的一名研究人员，我们正在申请一台多功能的大容量高速落地式离心机。我们的研究集中在蛋白质结构和功能的研究以及新材料的发现上。这些蛋白质是生物体中的主要功能参与者，它们的结构和功能之间的关系是复杂的。另一个项目研究昆虫化学感觉系统中的气味结合蛋白，目的是开发干扰害虫的新化合物。第二个项目研究细胞色素P450，一种催化已知的最困难的化学反应之一的酶：将氧原子插入碳氢键。这种酶可能会在环境友好的过程中被开发成催化剂。第三个项目研究隐色素，参与调节昼夜节律的蛋白质。第四个项目旨在了解几种蛋白质中的快速分子运动。这一知识对设计新的药物、害虫防治剂和材料很重要。第五个项目专注于金属运输蛋白质，它可以开发成靶向抗癌药物。第六组项目研究细菌菌毛，即在细菌感染中很重要的丝状蛋白质结构。第七组项目专门设计新型纳米结构材料，应用广泛，从非线性光学材料到疾病组织的显像剂。离心机对所有这些项目都是必不可少的，因为它们需要大量生产蛋白质或纳米结构材料。离心机用于所需产品的分离和纯化的不同阶段。目前，我们无法获得足够的落地式离心机来满足我们的研究需要。但所要求的离心机将使我们能够更快地生产更大数量的我们研究的产品。这反过来将确保我们各自的研究计划具有更高的质量和生产率。

We are four researchers in the Department of Chemistry and one researcher in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Simon Fraser University, and we are applying for a versatile high capacity and high speed floor-model centrifuge.  Our research is focused on the study of protein structure and function and on the discovery of new materials.  Proteins are major functional players in living organisms, and the relationship between their structure and their function is complex.  One project addresses odorant-binding proteins from insect chemosensory systems, with the aim of developing new compounds that interfere with pest insects.  A second set of projects addresses cytochrome P450, an enzyme that catalyzes one of the most difficult chemical reactions known: the insertion of an oxygen atom into a carbon-hydrogen bond.  This enzyme may be developed into catalysts in environmentally benign processes.  A third project addresses cryptochromes, proteins that are involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms.  A fourth project aims to understand the rapid molecular motions in several proteins.  This knowledge is important for the design of new drugs, pest control agents and materials.  A fifth project focuses on metal-transporting proteins, which can be developed into targeted anticancer agents. A sixth set of projects addresses bacterial pili, filamentous protein structures that are important in bacterial infection.  A seventh project specializes in the design of new nanostructured materials, for myriad applications, ranging from non-linear optic materials to imaging agents for diseased tissue.  A centrifuge is essential to all of these projects, because they require production of proteins or nanostructured materials in large quantities.  The centrifuge is used at various stages of isolation and purification of the required products. Currently we do not have sufficient access to a floor-model centrifuge for our research needs.  The requested centrifuge will enable us to produce larger quantities of the products we research more quickly.  This, in turn, will ensure a higher quality and productivity of our respective research programs.