A molecular imager for Quantitative biochemistry

定量分子成像是现代生物化学的核心。它依赖于放射性同位素标记、生物大分子(蛋白质、RNA和DNA)的荧光标记或染色，以及现代成像仪器的准确检测。常见的应用包括核酸和蛋白质定量、Western、Northern和Southern杂交、核酸足迹、酶研究、热力学表征和蛋白质组学研究。在这里，需要一个现代的分子成像仪，来自Bio-Rad的PharosFX Plus，以满足蒙特利尔大学生化系在定量生物化学方面的研究需求。该仪器将取代10年前从Bio-Rad购买的过时的MolecularFX成像仪。它将向生物化学系的所有成员开放，但将主要由8名研究人员组成的核心使用，他们的研究项目依赖于这样的成像平台。分子成像仪将满足定量荧光成像和磷成像的需求。这样的仪器是必不可少的，以确保大量的研究项目可以不受重大干扰地进行。这对于了解蒙特雷亚尔大学生物化学系正在研究的关键生物过程以及协助开发癌症和病毒感染等疾病的新疗法至关重要。

Quantitative molecular imaging is at the heart of modern biochemistry. It relies on radioisotope labeling, fluorescent labeling or staining of biological macromolecules (protein, RNA and DNA), and accurate detection on modern imaging instruments. Common applications include nucleic acid and protein quantification, Western, Northern and Southern blotting, nucleic acid footprinting, enzymatic studies, thermodynamic characterization and proteomics studies. Here, a modern Molecular Imager, the PharosFX Plus from Bio-Rad, is requested to fulfill the research needs in quantitative biochemistry of the Biochemistry Department at the Université de Montréal. This instrument will replace the outdated MolecularFX Imager purchased from Bio-Rad 10 years ago. It will be available to all members of the Biochemistry Department but will be used mainly by a core of 8 researchers whose research programs depend on such imaging platform. The Molecular Imager will cover needs for quantitative fluorescence imaging and phosphorimaging. Such instrument is indispensable to insure that a large number of research projects can be carried on without major interruptions. It is crucial for understanding key biological processes that are being investigated in the Biochemistry Department at the Université de Montréal and for assisting in the development of new treatments for diseases, such as cancer and viral infections.