Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

A Typhoon NIR Biomolecular Imager with a Blue Laser and an Azure 280 Gel Imager are requested by Discovery Grant funded applicants for the purpose of supporting multiple research programs in the Life Science Building (LSB) at York University. York University's Life Science Building supports 26 primary investigators, including at least 15 in the Departments of Biology and Chemistry that are supported by NSERC Discovery Grants. These research programs rely heavily on the ability to detect and quantitate levels of radioisotopes, fluorophores and chemiluminescence (ECL) linked to or associated with nucleic acids and proteins of interest. The only instrument for radioisotope detection on gels and membranes (i.e. 32P labelled RNA and DNA, or 35S labelled proteins) in the LSB was a Typhoon Biomolecular Imager purchased in 2008. This imager was also the only instrument in the LSB that was capable of detecting blue wavelength fluorescently labelled proteins or nucleic acids. Recently, the Typhoon imager purchased in 2008 broke down, and the manufacturer has indicated that it is no longer supported and cannot be repaired. This means that it is currently impossible to perform quantitative gel or membrane-based radioisotope or fluorescence detection in the LSB. ECL is currently detected using a MicroChemi 2.0 that is at the end of its lifespan, as it is now routinely giving errors and for which parts or support is no longer provided by the manufacturer. Thus the need for a new set of instruments that can be used for radioisotope, fluorescence and ECL detection is extremely urgent, as research programs that rely on this functionality have had their research productivity severely hampered. There is a wide breadth of Discovery grant supported groups in the LSB studying diverse research topics including but not limited to RNA processing, epigenetics, signal transduction, post-translational modification of proteins by ubiquitin and SUMO, host-microbe interactions, cellular differentiation and cellular adaptations to stress. The requested instruments will represent critical infrastructure supporting all of these programs. The instruments will be used by graduate students and other highly qualified personnel, gaining a valuable training for future careers in academia or industry. The application will benefit applicants and trainees from a diverse breadth of equity seeking groups.