High-Speed Multispectral Confocal Microscope
PNNL’s high-speed multispectral confocal microscope allows near-real-time visualization of cell signaling in three dimensions in living cells.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL's) high-speed multispectral confocal microscope can simultaneously acquire two-color images at speeds up to 30 frames per second. It provides the researcher with the capability to perform near-real-time fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) and ratiometric analysis of confocal images. Also, researchers can quantitatively measure the spatial and temporal characteristics of signals that propagate from cell to cell in three-dimensions and in real time. Our instrument is combined with high-speed data acquisition and analysis. Using our customized software, researchers can perform real-time compartmental analysis of dozens of samples simultaneously. It was designed with and is being tested for the capability to collect and analyze a large data array from visual input in an automated fashion, thus providing a high-throughput screening capability. Currently, we are developing protocols to apply the instrument to high-throughput screening, including high-throughput DNA cloning, retroviral production, gene expression, and analysis. It is also being used to analyze cell signaling in a three dimensional (3-D) environment and to visualize radiation-induced bystander signaling in 3-D cell cultures in situ.
