Funds are requested for a Molecular Dynamics Storm 840, Power Macintosh 7500, HP LaserJet 4M plus, and 6 imaging screens, to be placed in the core facility serving the three departments of Biology, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, and Chemistry. The instrument will be used by the laboratories of six major users, two minor users, and other occasional users in these departments. The Storm 840 images radioactive and fluorescent blots and gels with five orders of linear dynamic range, and a resolution of 250 M for radioactive samples, and 500 M for fluorescent samples. This instrument will provide the ability to accurately quantify radioactive and fluorescent blots and gels, which is not currently possible at Wesleyan University. The fluorescent capability will enable the use of fluorescent labels instead of radioactive labels in many applications. Substitution of chemifluorescent techniques for chemiluminescent techniques will provide both accurate quantitation of samples and longer sample lifetime. The Storm imager will be used to quantify protein-DNA and protein-RNA gel shifts, sequencing gels, CAT assays, Western, Northern, and Southwestern blots, RNA footprints and toeprints, pulse-chase labeling experiments, processive DNA replication, nucleotide binding, RNase protection, and RT-PCR assays. These methods will be applied to several different projects. These include studies of: Contribution of individual structural elements to the folding of RNA; Thermodynamic and structural basis of RNA- protein interactions; Dissection of Drosophila Paired proteil function; Identification of imm unoglobulin-like molecules in he developing CNS; Mechanisms of protein localization in scherichia coli; Identification of novel antigens for Lyme disease diagnosis; Biochemical analysis of yeast DNA replication and repair proteins; and The role of extracellular matrix and signaling molecules in teratocarcinoma stem cell differentiation. Matching funds from Wesleyan University will pay for 50% of the cost of the instrument.
