Award Abstract #0088911
A Confocal Microscope for Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biology

NSF Org:	DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure
Initial Amendment Date:	July 15, 2000
Latest Amendment Date:	July 15, 2000
Award Number:	0088911
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Gerald Selzer DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	August 1, 2000
Expires:	July 31, 2002 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$172444
Investigator(s):	Margaret Saha mssaha@wm.edu (Principal Investigator) Eric Bradley (Co-Principal Investigator) Paul Heideman (Co-Principal Investigator) Diane Shakes (Co-Principal Investigator) Lizabeth Allison (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	College of William and Mary Grants & Research Admin. Williamsburg, VA 23187 757/221-3485
NSF Program(s):	INSTRUMENTAT & INSTRUMENT DEVP
Field Application(s):	0510301 Structure & Function
Program Reference Code(s):	BIOT, 9184
Program Element Code(s):	1108

ABSTRACT

A laser scanning confocal microscope will significantly enhance and expand the research capabilities of a group of molecular, cellular, and integrative biologists at the College of William and Mary. Currently, these investigators use conventional light and epifluorescence microscopy which, due to certain inherent limitations, precludes certain types of studies. Confocal microscopy can produce optical sectioning of biological specimens and this series of optical sections can then be tomographically assembled using computer reconstruction to produce extremely precise three dimensional images that could be optically viewed through any plane. This allows for imaging fluorescent signals in both living tissues and in thick biological specimens. Confocal microscopy is extremely well suited for visualizing multiple fluorescent signals in the same cell simultaneously and allows for an accurate quantitative measurement of colocalization. The investigator can detect weak or faint images while dramatically increasing the resolution of the image compared to standard epifluorescence. Moreover, even subcellular structures or signals can be localized within a cell in the context of a tissue slice or a living embryo. The acquisition of a confocal scope will enable these investigators to conduct their current research projects more efficiently and productively as well as extend their research in new directions.

This instrumentation will have a major impact on seven different research projects including (1) understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing the development of brain vasculature, in particular the tissue interactions and genetic responses that give rise to the brain vasculature ; (2) investigating subnuclear trafficking of nuclear hormone receptors; (3) determining the physiological and genetic mechanisms regulating reproductive responsiveness and inhibition in prairie deermice; (4) uncovering genetic variation underlying photoresponsiveness in the white-footed mouse; (5) investigating the metaphase to anaphase transition during mitosis and meiosis in C. elegans, particularly the role of the anaphase promoting complex; (6) analyzing the functional morphology of thermoregulatory neurons in the hypothalamus in order to understand how organisms regulate their temperature; and (7) determining the genetic mechanisms regulating the activity of the Pax-5 transcription factor during B cell development. In addition, additional investigators from the Biology Department as well investigators from other disciplines including BioPsychology, Kinesiology and Applied Science, will also utilize the confocal microscope.

The acquisition of this instrument will have a profound effect not only on the research capabilities of the investigators but will also have a significant educational impact at the College of William and Mary. This technology will be integrated into the cell biology, molecular biology, and neurobiology courses. A substantial number of both Master's degree students and undergraduates will utilize the confocal microscope in the course of their research.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.