Director:
John J. Lemasters, MD, PhD
Professor, Departments of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Contact Information:
Name: Margaret Kelly, Ph.D.
Phone: 843-792-5793
E-Mail: kellymm@musc.edu
Location: Hollings Cancer Center 712
Description:
The Molecular Imaging Core provides technical services and training in confocal microscopy to HCC investigators. Applications include data acquisition/capture at the cellular and/or tissue levels, data analysis and software packages. The latter services are provided on a separate computer station. In addition to providing state of the art microscopes, the Molecular Imaging Core strives to identify specific user needs for future purchases. This may include non-destructive, low energy imaging of live cells, BRET (bioluminescence resonance energy transfer) and multi photon imaging applications. During the initial training session users will be instructed regarding the safety precautions of lasers, proper handling of high cost objectives, and general overview of the image acquisition software. Core personnel will assist users in image acquisition. Core personnel will determine when individual users are sufficiently trained to enable the transition to an independent user. Once a user has become experienced with the instrumentation, he/she will be allowed to use the facility independently, including nights and weekends.
Services:
The Hollings Cancer Center Molecular Imaging Core provides instrumentation and technological support enabling investigators to localize proteins of interest to their specific cellular compartments. In particular, this facility enables cancer investigators to compare the molecular architecture of normal versus tumor cells. Training on the microscope(s) is required to allow all end users hands-on access. The facility continuously seeks new technologies that will complement confocal microscopy.
Equipment:
The Molecular Imaging Core Facility supports two confocal laser scanning microscopes. The Zeiss LSM 510 META is housed in the Strom Thurmond building Rm 647 (85 sq ft). The Leica TCS SP2 AOBS was recently moved from Pharmacology Dept. BSB308B to the new HCC wing HO704 (85 sq ft). Both microscopes are equipped with an Ar laser (458, 477, 488, 514 nm) 30 mW; a HeNe laser (543 nm) 1 mW and a HeNe laser (633 nm) 5 mW.
