The first step toward understanding any biological system is to identify and quantify its components. The second step is to determine the interactions between the components of a system. A fluorescence/phosphorimager can provide the technology needed to begin to accomplish these steps. The STORM 860 Fluorescence/Phosphorimager will be used to aid in the identification and quantification of molecules, e.g., proteins, DNA, RNA, of interest. In addition, it will be used to visualize and analyze molecular interactions between well-characterized molecules and previously uncharacterized molecules.
The imager will be used to address fundamental questions in biology including - investigations into protein structure and function, regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis, regulation of RNA polymerase assembly, analysis of recombinant protein expression by RNAse protection assays, and gene expression analysis by screening cDNA microarrays.
Because the fluorescence/phosphorimager imaging and analysis technology is very robust with wide-ranging applications for cellular, molecular and biochemical research programs, it will strengthen and expand active research programs at Oakland University. Furthermore, the imager will strengthen and expand the training and education of university students, teachers, and other working professionals in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology.
