Seeing cells in a whole new way
"Thought is impossible without an image."
"Cell function changes with time and in response to changes in its environment, so we need multifunctional instruments to observe biological processes in living systems, in real-time," said Colson. "By developing tools that allow researchers to study cellular functions--at the subcellular, cellular, tissue and organ scales--we can help accelerate discovery and understand the biochemical networks and pathways that carry out essential processes in living organisms."
One instrument developed as part of the Cellular Observatory is the compound confocal patch clamp microscope. This specialized microscope helps researchers understand important molecular processes that occur in the cell membrane, such as how channel proteins within the membrane regulate the passing of ions in and out of the cell. After attaching a pipette to a cell membrane, or "patch clamping" the membrane, researchers use this specialized instrument to look at the tiny piece of membrane between the walls of the pipette and measure the ion current passing through the channel proteins.
Proteins within the cell membranes work like sensors that automatically open the gates to admit certain ions. Calcium ions, for example, are important in regulating cell function. Scientists are trying to build a better understanding of how the proteins become conductive and how the cell is affected when ions flow across the cell membrane. In addition, researchers are investigating cell signals transmitted across the membrane. At times the mere presence of certain proteins outside the cell affects the chemistry and binding properties of proteins within it.
According to Colson, a national laboratory is uniquely suited to bring together the multidisciplinary teams needed to develop new instruments such as the compound confocal patch clamp microscope. The scientists involved with the Cellular Observatory represent disciplines in the biological sciences, the physical sciences and engineering and automation, as well as collaborators from other research institutions.
Because new research instruments must meet the needs of the researchers who will use them, there is a close coupling among those on the instrument development teams and the scientists doing biological research. By providing substantial advances in imaging, these new instruments and research capabilities will deliver detailed and quantitative information that can be used to develop, test and improve computer models of biological processes.
"The instruments are just one piece of the puzzle," Colson said. "We build project teams around biological problems. These teams drive all the aspects of the problems--imaging, modeling, proteomics and genomics, and the design of experiments."