Alexander Hoffmann and Jesse Vargas

The SDCSB / Signaling Systems Laboratory Light Microscopy Core is designed to facilitate research projects within the center by providing expertise in the experimental setup and design of imaging assays including support in the initial planning of assays, fluorescent reporter design, stable and or transient expression of reporter systems, training on epifluorescent and confocal imaging systems, live­cell imaging experimental setup, indirect ­immunofluorescence assay design, and image acquisition, analysis and presentation/production of publication quality figures and results.

The core will promote the use of imaging approaches to the validation, refinement, and reconciliation of population averaged biochemical data at the cellular level. To achieve this the core is equipped with 2 Axio Observer Z1 Live­Cell imaging systems (Zeiss) outfitted with 14 bit Coolsnap HQ2 cooled CCD cameras (photometrics), an Axio Observer Z1 Live­Cell imaging system (Zeiss) outfitted with dual Mr2 Axiocam cameras (Zeiss) for FRET studies as well as a high sensitivity Cascade EMCCD camera (photometrics) for low signal detection, and a Yokagawa spinning disk confocal systems (Yokagawa) built around an Axio Observer Z1 microscope (Zeiss) outfitted with a six laser lines and a high sensitivity Evolve EMCCD (photometrics) for rapid live­imaging of low signal specimens and optical sectioning, TIRF add on for single molecule studies (Zeiss), and an additional OrcaFlash SCMOS 2kx2k camera (Hamamatsu) for epifluorescent work.