Laser-scanning confocal microscope adaptation for multi-user

该提案要求为配件提供资金，以便改装现有设备，建立一个多用户激光扫描共聚焦显微镜平台，用于分析模型生物体的发育。合并后的申请实验室研究与细胞和组织在发育过程中如何对信号做出反应的过程有关的广泛的基本问题，应用范围从细胞极性的确立研究，到神经、视网膜和肌肉发育以及神经管缺陷的遗传控制，再到新陈代谢调节的系统生物学方法。这些研究计划的统一主题是使用模型生物，这些生物可以在完整的活动物的背景下，在亚细胞水平上研究蛋白质，以及这些蛋白质的变化对表达它们的组织的动态结构的影响。这些研究所需的关键设备是激光扫描共聚焦显微镜，它既能对较厚的样品成像，又能进行延时研究；这是该大学目前没有的一种能力。基础显微镜是由一位共同申请者提供给该小组的。我们正在申请配件资金，以实现这一功能，极大地提高更多种类的研究应用的灵活性，并促进多用户图像采集、处理和存储。这些配件包括高分辨率数码相机、工作距离远的显微镜物镜、可使用更广泛荧光标记的滤光片，以及具有数据存储和数据安全功能的计算机工作站。通过改造现有设备，我们可以用通常成本的一小部分来实现这一目标。

This proposal requests funding for accessories that will allow the adaptation of existing equipment to create a multi-user laser scanning confocal microscope platform for the analysis of model organism development. The combined applicant laboratories study a broad range of fundamental questions relating to the processes of how cells and tissues respond to signals during development, with applications extending from the study of the establishment of cell polarity, to neural, retinal and muscle development and genetic control of neural tube defects, to systems biology approaches to the regulation of metabolism. The unifying theme of these research programs is the use of model organisms, which are amenable to the study of proteins at subcellular levels within the context of the intact, living animal, and the resulting effect of changes in these proteins on the dynamic structure of the tissues in which they are expressed. The key piece of equipment necessary for these studies is a laser-scanning confocal microscope with the capability to both image thicker specimens and to do time-lapse studies; a capability that is not currently available at the University. The basic microscope is being provided to the group by one of the co-applicants. We are requesting funds for accessories to allow this capability, to greatly increase the flexibility for a larger variety of research applications, and to facilitate multi-user image acquisition, processing and storage. These accessories include a high resolution digital camera, microscope objectives with a long working-distance, optical filters allowing the use of a wider set of fluorescent markers and a computer workstation with data storage and data security capabilities. By modifying existing equipment, we can achieve this goal at a fraction of the usual cost.