Advanced microscopy system for real-time imaging of cellular dynamics during animal development

****** Julie Brill博士的前沿研究项目旨在了解细胞在发育过程中改变形状（经历形态发生）和分化的分子过程。她的实验室的一个主要重点是研究在精子发育过程中控制细胞形态发生和分化的机制，这是男性生育力必不可少的过程。Brill博士的实验室使用强大的分子遗传学和果蝇模型系统（Drosophila melanogaster）的良好表征的细胞生物学来表征伴随成熟精子形成的戏剧性变化。利用显微镜，她的实验室可以检查不育苍蝇精子成熟过程受到损害时发生的缺陷。布里尔博士是世界上为数不多的研究果蝇精子发育细胞生物学的科学家之一。****** 该提案要求为Brill博士的实验室提供关键设备（2016年NSERC发现补助金获得者）。一个全面的显微镜系统，包括倒置荧光显微镜和高灵敏度相机，要求使博士布里尔的实验室继续NSERC资助的研究。这种新型显微镜将配备长期的生活和3D成像的分化细胞和组织在真实的时间，揭示前所未有的亚细胞细节。例如，通过对荧光标记的RNA分子、蛋白质和脂质进行成像，布里尔博士的实验室将研究这些分子在细胞形态发生过程中是如何被调节的，以确保成熟、可育的精子的产生。该设备还将允许对培养的细胞和组织进行定量成像，允许快速筛选以确定控制细胞形态发生和分化所涉及的特定途径的因素。****** 拟议的设备将最大限度地提高Brill博士的NSERC发现补助金的投资，并使最先进的技术用于研究发育过程中细胞形态发生和分化的动态和亚细胞结构。这台设备是急需的，因为布里尔博士目前的显微镜已经使用了18年，无法再进行维修或保养。此外，由于需要快速访问显微镜，以及长期实时成像实验的持续时间，她的实验室不能使用位于大楼其他地方的其他显微镜进行这项研究。这些设备将有助于培养一批高素质的人员（本科生、研究生、博士后研究员），使他们能够将联合收割机复杂的分子遗传学方法与同样复杂的显微镜成像技术结合起来，以发现新的细胞机制，从而进一步加深我们对动物发育和雄性生殖力所涉及的基本过程的理解。

****** Dr. Julie Brill's cutting-edge research program aims to understand the molecular process by which cells change shape (undergo morphogenesis) and differentiate during development. A main focus of her lab is to investigate mechanisms that control cell morphogenesis and differentiation during sperm development, a process that is essential for male fertility. Dr. Brill's lab uses the powerful molecular genetics and well-characterized cell biology of the fruit fly model system (Drosophila melanogaster) to characterize the dramatic changes that accompany formation of mature sperm. Using microscopes, her lab can examine defects that occur when the sperm maturation process is compromised in infertile flies. Dr. Brill is one of the few scientists world-wide that are studying the cell biology of Drosophila sperm development. ****** This proposal requests crucial equipment for Dr. Brill's lab (2016 NSERC Discovery Grant recipient). A comprehensive microscopy system, including an inverted fluorescence microscope and high-sensitivity camera, are requested to enable Dr. Brill's lab to continue NSERC-funded research. This new microscope will be outfitted for long-term live- and 3D-imaging of differentiating cells and tissues in real time, revealing unprecedented subcellular detail. For example, through imaging fluorescently-tagged RNA molecules, proteins and lipids, Dr. Brill's lab will examine how these are regulated during cell morphogenesis to ensure the production of mature, fertile sperm. This equipment will also permit quantitative imaging of cultured cells and tissues, allowing for rapid screening to identify factors that control specific pathways involved in cell morphogenesis and differentiation. ****** The proposed equipment will maximize the investment of Dr. Brill's NSERC Discovery Grant and enable state-of-the art technology for studying the dynamics and subcellular architecture of cell morphogenesis and differentiation during development. This equipment is urgently needed, as Dr. Brill's current microscope is 18 years old and can no longer be repaired or serviced. Moreover, due to the need for rapid access to the microscope, as well as the duration of long-term live imaging experiments, her lab cannot use other microscopes located elsewhere in the building to conduct this research. The equipment will contribute to training a group of highly qualified personnel (undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows) to combine sophisticated molecular genetic approaches with equally sophisticated microscope imaging techniques to uncover novel cellular mechanisms that will further our understanding of fundamental processes involved in animal development and male fertility.*****