Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

A Flow Cytometer is requested for the cellular analyses required for six NSERC-funded research programs in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Environmental Toxicology, Development, and Virology, which aim to understand the: (1) Mechanisms underlying adaptive cellular responses and apoptosis induced by stresses (oxidative stress, pesticides); (2) Mechanisms involving cell signaling, adaptive responses and oxidative stress in cellular dysfunction caused by toxic metals; (3) Mechanisms by which environmental pollutants (agricultural pesticides, fertilisers) impair metabolic function in mammalian cells; (4) Function of new genes expressed in neural crest cells that are critical for proper formation of the enteric nervous system; (5) Function of the antioxidant ceruloplasmin in nervous system development; and (6) Regulation of the expression of Human Endogenous Retrovirus envelope genes in human trophoblasts. The equipment is requested by 3 senior investigators (D. Averill-Bates, C. Jumarie, J. Paquin) and 3 young researchers (B. Barbeau, N. Pilon, M. Boily). A flow cytometer allows rapid analyses of a multitude of biological parameters in individual cells. Suspensions of cells labeled with fluorescent probes flow through a focused light beam and sensitive measurements on single cells are detected and can be quantified. The requested C6 Accuri Flow cytometer is equipped with a blue and red laser, two light scatter detectors, and four fluorescence detectors (FL1-FL4). The use of 2 lasers for excitation is highly versatile and allows use of a wider range of fluorichromes. The 4 detectors enable the simultaneous analysis of 4 parameters in the same cellular sample using 4 different fluorichromes. The flow cytometer will be used for analyses of a variety of cellular parameters: reactive oxygen species; apoptosis and autophagy assays; cell viability, proliferation and differentiation; protein phosphorylation; cell surface expression of proteins and receptors; and gene expression. The Flow Cytometer is essential for high quality, competitive research, at the Canadian and international levels, and graduate student training in the laboratories of these 6 NSERC-funded investigators in the Biology and Chemistry Departments.