Laser replacements and upgrades for a multi-user spinning disk confocal microscope

观察蛋白质在细胞内作用的能力对于理解细胞生物学、多细胞发育和疾病的分子基础至关重要。 基因组测序已经确定了构成人类、植物或苍蝇的所有蛋白质，但尚不清楚这些蛋白质如何相互作用以构建细胞、组织和器官。 通过同时对两种或三种不同的蛋白质进行成像，我们可以预测它们如何共同发挥作用来介导细胞过程。 通过从系统中移除蛋白质，我们可以通过监测其他蛋白质的反应来测试我们的预测。 收集这些信息需要先进的成像技术。 由位于安大略圭尔夫的Quorum技术公司生产的旋转圆盘共聚焦显微镜系统提供了最前沿的成像技术。 它以极高的空间和时间分辨率成像活细胞内的蛋白质。 它的高空间分辨率允许同时对多种蛋白质进行成像，而不会受到细胞其他部分的干扰。 它的高时间分辨率允许对单细胞内的蛋白质进行快速实时成像，或者随着时间的推移对整个三维组织进行成像。 这些技术和仪器是推进细胞生物学和发育研究以及培养博士后、研究生和本科生所必需的。 此应用程序是更换激光器和更换计算机，这是需要保持我们的旋转盘共焦显微镜系统的运作。 还要求进行升级，以提高系统的灵敏度，使其保持在成像技术的最前沿。

The ability to see where proteins are acting inside cells is critical for understanding the molecular bases of cell biology, multicellular development and disease. Genome sequencing has identified all of the proteins that make up a human, plant or fly, but it is unclear how these proteins interact together to build cells, tissues and organs. By imaging two or three different proteins at the same time, we can predict how they function together to mediate cellular processes. By removing proteins from the system, we can test our predictions by monitoring how other proteins respond. Collecting this information requires advanced imaging technology. The spinning disk confocal microscopy system produced by Quorum Technologies, Guelph, Ontario, provides imaging technology at the cutting edge. It images proteins inside living cells with extremely high resolution in space and time. Its high spatial resolution allows the imaging of multiple proteins at once without interference from other parts of the cell. Its high temporal resolution allows rapid live imaging of proteins inside single cells, or the imaging of entire three-dimensional tissues as they develop over time. These techniques and this instrument are required for advancing research in cell biology and development, and for the training of post-doctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduates. This application is for replacement lasers and a replacement computer which are needed to keep our spinning disk confocal microscopy system operational. An upgrade is also requested for enhancing the sensitivity of the system to maintain it at the cutting edge of imaging technology.