Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 556129280

Several research projects at the Institute of Animal Cell and Systems Biology (IZS) of the Department of Biology at Universität Hamburg (UHH) and the neighboring Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Department of Chemistry aim to understand complex molecular mechanisms in multicellular organisms. In particular, these are projects that investigate (a) changes in cellular structures and gene expression upon reprogramming of cell identities in the nematode C. elegans, (b) Ca2+ signaling in mouse olfactory bulb astrocytes, (c) subunit interactions and the non-pumping functions of Na,K-ATPase subunits in the large milkweed bug, O. fasciatus, (d) the interplay between the ribosome-quality control and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathways, and (e) the effect of globin knockout on zebrafish organ development and hypoxia tolerance. All these projects require the generation of three-dimensional images of biological samples by confocal light microscopy at high spatial and temporal resolution, as well as fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) (a) to increase resolution and filter out autofluorescence signals, (b) to carry out FLIM-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET) measurements to assess nanoscale molecular interactions quantitatively. Currently, no suitable microscope is available at IZS to perform such essential high-resolution, three-dimensional confocal imaging and FLIM measurements of specimens. Therefore, we apply here to acquire a suitable confocal microscope equipped for FLIM measurements. Based on the research projects that need this instrument, we describe the specific technological requirements of the microscope. The instrument will be operated by UHH’s Technology Platform Light Microscopy (TPLM) to ensure that the instrument is used efficiently and that the technologies it provides are made accessible to all research groups at UHH. A core facility management software will be used to schedule measurement times. Data will be locally saved during the measurement. For permanent data storage, server capacities will be provided by UHH through its Regional Computing Center (RRZ), whereas image analysis resources will be provided by the TPLM.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Konfokales Laser-Scanning-Mikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Universität Hamburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Baris Tursun