Center for Cell and Genome Sciences,Crocker Science Building
• an introduction
Villu Maricq, directorErik Jorgensen, professorCenter for Cell and Genome SciencesDepartment of BiologyUniversity of Utah
• science at the center
where is science going?interdisciplinary studies
biology
physics chemistry
Center for Cell and Genome Sciences
genetic engineeringbuilding artificial lifebrain engineering
nanotechnologylight generating moleculeslight-activated ion channels
breaking the light barrierlaser tweezersphotodiodes
the Cell
engineering the genome, imaging proteins
Invitrogen
at the intersection of chemistry, physics and biology
biology
physics chemistry
scientific disciplines are tribal
How do your break down the academic boundaries?
- Interdepartmental centers
Center for Cell and Genome Sciences
founders biology
physics chemistry
Villu Maricq,director
Erik Jorgensen Markus Babst Richard Clark Julie Hollien
Jennifer HeemstraMark JiMichael VershininSaveez Saffarian
Center for Cell and Genome Scienceshttp://ccgs.utah.edu/
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FACULTYbreaking academic barriers
Crocker Science Building
Center for Cell and Genome Scienceshttp://ccgs.utah.edu/
A COMMON BUILDING
Center for Advanced Microscopy
In the Center for Cell and Genome Sciences
http://www.research.utah.edu/advanced-microscopy/
CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY
IV. Undergrad education: interdisciplinary capstone projects
Science at the Center for Cell and Genome Science
I. Basic research: Memory
II. Health sciences: Spinal injury
III. Technological innovation: Breaking the light barrier - Vutara
V. Crocker Science Center: the building
next generation basic research, health sciences, technological innovation, education
memory
the human brain
the hippocampus is required for the acquisition of memory
damage to the hippocampus leads to the loss of formation of new memories
information processing in the brain
information processing in the brain
model:memory is a change in strength of
connections
neuron
axon
synapse
memories exist at synapses
neurotransmittermolecules
synaptic vesicles
working on the human brain is impractical
Vesalius - 1543
understanding processes via model systems
• simpler• works the same way
a model system - the nematode
simple nervous systemconserved molecules with human brain
the synapse
Jorgensen lab: four proteins required for strength of synapses
OH OH P
P
P
phospholipase uncoordinated-13UNC-13
SNAREsGq
vesicle with neurotransmitter
mouse UNC13 function the same way
human UNC13 function in the human brain
IV. Undergrad education: interdisciplinary capstone projects
Science at the Center for Cell and Genome Science
I. Basic research: Memory
II. Health sciences: Spinal injury
III. Technological innovation: Breaking the light barrier - Vutara
V. Crocker Science Center: the building
next generation basic research, health sciences, technological innovation, education
spinal cord injury - nerve cells cannot regenerate
http://www.180medical.com/
Bastiani /Jorgensen: neurons regenerate in the worm
Mike Bastiani
cut axons regenerate poorly
Bastiani /Jorgensen: neurons regenerate in the worm
improving axonal regeneration
Mike Bastiani
IV. Undergrad education: interdisciplinary capstone projects
Science at the Center for Cell and Genome Science
I. Basic research: Memory
II. Health sciences: Spinal injury
III. Technological innovation: Breaking the light barrier - Vutara
V. Crocker Science Center: the building
next generation basic research, health sciences, technological innovation, education
cultured hippocampal neuron
Journal of Neuroscience
Rotary shadow electron microscope image of a cultured wild-type hippocampal neuron.
the Cellthe cell is composed of many membrane bound organelles
Invitrogen
but where are the proteins?
Aequorea victoria
Aequorin converts calcium binding into blue light
Green fluorescent protein converts blue light into green light
tagging proteins with fluorescent proteins
green fluorescent protein converts blue light (488nm) into green light
synaptotagmin GFP
synaptotagmin-GFP is in the nematode brain but is too crude to determine where the
protein is in cells
brightfield
fluoresence
Green-fluorescent protein
33
2.5 nm
light is irreducible
34
2.5 nm
green fluorescent protein
light is irreducible
35444 nm
the diffraction limit of light
the Abbe limit:
In light microscopy, objects can only be resolved if their distance is at least half the wavelength (diffraction limited).
(Ernst Abbe 1840 – 1905)
the diffraction limit
the size limit of light is broken
Stefan Hell Max Planck Institute, Goettingen Germany
bi-plane - 3D super-resolution microscopy
Joerg Bewersdorf Brian Bennett
Till iMic-based biplane PALM microscope
Brian Bennett
Biplane microscope
4 um beads coated with caged fluorescein
imaged using widefield optics
imaged using biplane optics
Vutara SR-200
biplane 3D PALM microscope
CEO Stan Kanarowski, Salt Lake City, UT
USA, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Israel
IV. Undergrad education: interdisciplinary capstone projects
Science at the Center for Cell and Genome Science
I. Basic research: Memory
II. Health sciences: Spinal injury
III. Technological innovation: Breaking the light barrier - Vutara
V. Crocker Science Center: the building
next generation basic research, health sciences, technological innovation, education
scanning PALM
Mirror
Mirror
Mirror
ScanningMirror
ScanningMirror
Dichroic
photomultiplier
Dichroic
Dichroic
543 nm 488 nmimaging
laserimaging
laseractivating
laser
405nm
Biol 5285
(1) X-Y scanning mirrors
(2) photomultiplier acquires time-stamped photons
why? 3D, more photons, less money
Biology 5285 - Advanced Microscopy - Spring 2011
Carl Ebeling
the microscope build
Biol 5285
IV. Undergrad education: interdisciplinary capstone projects
Science at the Center for Cell and Genome Science
I. Basic research: Memory
II. Health sciences: Spinal injury
III. Technological innovation: Breaking the light barrier - Vutara
V. Crocker Science Center: the building
next generation basic research, health sciences, technological innovation, education
Crocker Science Building
Center for Cell and Genome Scienceshttp://ccgs.utah.edu/
A COMMON BUILDING for interdisciplinary science
the Crocker Science Buildingformerly the Museum of Natural History
the facade of the old natural history museum, circa 2005
courtesy of bryan jones - jonesblog
the Crocker Science Buildingformerly the Museum of Natural History
dinosaur hall, circa 2005
courtesy of bryan jones - jonesblog
the Crocker Science Buildingoriginally the University of Utah Library
http://www.research.utah.edu/advanced-microscopy/giving.html
the reading room, circa 1931to be renovated
1. Basic research
Science at the Center for Cell and Genome SciencesUniversity of Utah
2. Health sciences3. Technology and economy4. Education for future
