# Cell & Molecular Imaging Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2020 · $153,176

## Abstract

Cell & Molecular Imaging Core D —John Lemasters, MD, PhD, Core Leader
Abstract
Cell & Molecular Imaging Core D provides major support in confocal, multiphoton and brightfield microscopy to
COBRE investigators. The Imaging Core houses the following major microscope systems: 1) a Zeiss LSM 880
NLO confocal/multiphoton microscope equipped with a Coherent Chameleon multiphoton laser with Quasar
photomultiplier array for spectral analysis; 2) an Olympus FV1200 multiphoton microscope with Spectra-
Physics MaiTai multiphoton laser and silicone oil optics for intravital imaging, 3) an Olympus FV10i LIV live cell
confocal microscope with water immersion optics, 4) a Zeiss LSM 510 META laser scanning confocal
microscope; and 5) a BD CARV II disk-scanning confocal microscope for video-rate imaging as well as
conventional widefield microscopy. All microscopes are equipped with environmental chambers for
temperature and gas phase control to allow high resolution non-destructive 3-dimensional imaging of living
cells, tissues and organisms. Major applications of this instrumentation include 1) live cell imaging of
parameter-sensitive fluorophores to monitor ions, electrical potentials, oxygen and nitrogen radical generation,
pyridine nucleotide reduction, mitochondrial and plasmalemmal membrane permeability, cell viability
(apoptosis and necrosis), fluorescent protein labeling and other parameters; 2) intravital microscopy to monitor
microcirculation, leukocyte margination, mitochondrial polarization and permeability, radical generation, gene
expression and other parameters in living animals; 3) fluorescence and brightfield imaging of immuno-stained
tissue samples; 4) fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to characterize and quantify interactions
between specific molecules; 5) Duolink proximity ligation assay to study interactions between endogenously
expressed proteins. Ancillary equipment includes a digital darkroom facility for digitizing, analyzing and labeling
images; software and computer workstations for 3- and 4-D image analysis and volume rendering; tissue
culture hoods and incubators for specimen preparation; and fluorescence and absorbance plate readers for
parallel measurements in cultured cells grown on multi-well plates. Imaging core services will promote the
success of the individual COBRE projects and will also provide training and assistance to junior investigators
studying oxidative stress and stress signaling related to the overall theme of this COBRE. In Phase 1 of the
COBRE, CMI Core D contributed to 29 of 44 publications and 26 of 35 grant applications by COBRE
investigators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005397
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103542-10
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** John J Lemasters
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $153,176
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-01 → 2022-01-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005397

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005397, Cell & Molecular Imaging Core (5P20GM103542-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005397. Licensed CC0.

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