Epifluorescence microscope with a basic confocal laser module

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 544742317

The epifluorescence microscope applied for, should be equipped with a confocal basic module and an incubation chamber including CO2 and temperature control. It will be used for live cell imaging as well as for immunocytological and immunohistological analyses of fixed human and murine cell cultures and brain slices from genetically modified mice. It will serve as a replacement for a 14-year-old epifluorescence microscope. My research group works on the molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease, with focus on the Amyloid precursor protein. In addition we study the structural and physiological characteristics of APP and associated functions of protein complexes in intra- and extracellular signaling pathways. In this context, we are investigating various cell and neurobiological issues. These range from studies of cell adhesion properties and structural synaptic plasticity to mechanisms of intracellular transport and endocytosis. For our microscopic applications, fast, cell-protecting image acquisition with high resolution is of great importance. Due to the current focus of our research, we are also planning to carry out more immunohistological analyses on brain tissue and to make greater use of FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching) experiments to investigate changes in the dynamics of the cytoskeleton of cells. These investigations are currently carried out using confocal microscopes from other working groups. However, due to the high utilization of these microscopes, this is becoming increasingly difficult, especially when performing live cell microscopy on primary nerve cells. With the requested epifluorescence microscope, including a basic confocal laser module and a heatable incubation chamber, we could continue the research work in my group successfully and competitively.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Epifluoreszenzmikroskop mit konfokalem Laser-Grundmodul
• Instrumentation Group: 5000 Labormikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau
• Leader: Professor Dr. Stefan Kins