NCI/LRBGE Optical Microscopy Core (Building 41)

Authors

• TS Karpova
• DA Ball

Abstract

Fluorescence microscopy permits localization of single proteins or observation of cellular organelles within cells. Modern light microscopy is digitally enhanced, thereby facilitating visualization of dim objects, computerized image processing, and quantitative analysis. This field has grown explosively due to the development of new fluorophores and fast and sensitive imaging systems capable of detecting these markers. Modern fluorescence microscopy goes beyond simple observation and offers further advantage of biophysical quantification of intracellular processes, such as diffusion, binding rates, and protein dimerization. The field of fluorescent microscopy employs highly advanced instrumentation and requires special expertise. NCI Optical Microscopy Core is a shared resource open to everyone within the NCI, and we also welcome collaborations with investigators from other NIH institutes or beyond. We operate state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopes, confocal, wide-field, and superresolution, that enable a broad spectrum of fluorescence imaging experiments. We provide expert guidance and troubleshooting in the design, execution, interpretation and publication of these experiments. Our expertise runs the gamut from the most basic forms of fluorescence microscopy, such as dual label immunofluorescence, to the most sophisticated recent forms such as quantitative FRAP analysis, FRET, superresolution and single molecule tracking. We also have extensive experience with time lapse imaging of cells in 2D or 3D, and with computational methods for removal of out of focus light (deconvolution). Our expertise comes not only from helping users apply these various advanced techniques, but also from our extensive involvement in the development of these technologies.

Scientific Focus Area: Research Support Services

This page was last updated on Friday, March 26, 2021