Quantitative PCR instrument to support plant cell and molecular biology research

该提案要求提供资金，用于购买一套定量真实的PCR（聚合酶链反应）分析系统。这种类型的仪器在功能细胞和分子生物学中用于基因表达研究是必不可少的。对于此类研究，qRT-PCR有助于生物样品中DNA量的简便、灵敏、快速、高度特异性和定量测定。该仪器将支持10个NSERC支持的研究小组的工作，这些研究小组在物理上相邻的空间共享共同的实验室。这些研究小组将主要使用该仪器进行基因表达分析，使用定量逆转录PCR分析（qPCR）来支持植物细胞和分子生物学以及生物化学方面的一些个人和合作研究项目。基于实时qPCR的基因表达分析是这些实验室进行的研究的许多方面的核心和关键分析类型，将由所有10个实验室的大量HQP学员使用。 该仪器的具体应用将是获得与细胞壁生物合成、植物蜡和油的生物合成、植物细胞骨架的细胞生物学以及海藻生产力研究中的不同过程相关的关键基因的表达谱。尽管获得qPCR仪器对所有10个共同申请人实验室至关重要，但我们目前依赖于近5年前购买的一台使用频率很高的仪器，现在无法维修。由于该仪器的大量使用，其故障风险，容量限制，我们迫切需要第二个新仪器，既可以减轻当前仪器的压力，又可以在未来5年内为这些研究项目和HQP培训提供支持。该仪器也将免费提供给其他用户。

This proposal requests funds to purchase an analytical system for quantitative real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Instruments of this type are essential in functional cell and molecular biology for gene expression studies. For such studies, qRT-PCR facilitates facile, sensitive, rapid, highly specific, and quantitative assays of DNA quantity in a biological sample. This instrument will support the work of 10 NSERC supported research groups who share common labs in physically adjacent spaces. These research groups will primarily use the instrument for gene expression analysis using quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays (qPCR) to support a number of individual and collaborative research programs in plant cell and molecular biology and biochemistry. Real-time based qPCR gene expression assays are central and key types of analyses fundamental to many aspects of the research carried out these labs will be used by a large cohort of HQP trainees in all 10 labs. Specific applications of this instrument will be to obtain expression profiles of key genes associated with diverse processes in cell wall biosynthesis, biosynthesis of plant waxes and oils, the cell biology of the plant cytoskeleton, and studies on the productivity of marine algae. Although Access to an instrument for qPCR is essential all 10 co-applicant labs, we currently we rely on a single heavily used instrument purchased nearly 5 years ago, which is now impossible to service. Due to the heavy use of this instrument, its risk of failure, capacity limitations, we urgently require a second, new instrument that will both relieve pressure on the current instrument, and provide a back up to support these research programs and HQP training over the next 5 years. The instrument will also be made freely available to other users.