Acquisition of an Ultracentrifuge for Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Nanoscience Research - Ultracentrifugation is an important experimental technique in biochemistry, cell biology and nanoscience research as the very high centrifugal forces attainable in these kinds of instruments enable applications such as the harvesting of lipid vesicles, the separation of sub-cellular components in a sucrose gradient, and the harvesting of very small nanoparticles such as carbon nanodots. At the College of Staten Island, our two current ultracentrifuges have reached the end of their usable lifetimes and can no longer be serviced and repaired. Continuation of a range of biomedical research that relies on these instruments depends on obtaining a replacement centrifuge. We therefore propose to acquire a new ultracentrifuge to be used by 4 major and 4 other users in their research as well as in an advanced laboratory class for undergraduate teaching. Specific projects that will make use of this instrument are a) the study of sodium channel/toxin interactions and the discovery of novel toxins with potential pharmaceutical applications through targeting of the voltage-sensing mechanism in sodium channels; b) the production of synaptosomes for studying synaptic proteins and determinants of synaptic adhesion; c) the study of membrane protein topology and protein-lipid interactions by solid-state NMR spectroscopy; d) the study of antimicrobial and pro-inflammatory activities mediated by S100A12 in innate immunity through its interactions with RAGE and TLR4 receptors in their native, full-length state; e) the testing of novel anticancer agents as therapeutic agents for glioblastoma; f) the harvesting of carbon dots to be used in an intelligent insulin release nanogel; g) the development of biosensors for the detection of landmines; and h) the study of tau uptake and pathology in neurons. Additionally, this instrument is essential for teaching the advanced methods in cell biology lab, an experiential learning class that is tightly integrated with research project h) and where students work on questions of tau pathology and localization. The ultracentrifuge will be essential for the purification of subcellular organelles and particles as well as different tau aggregates. Lastly, all above research projects are carried out with substantial undergraduate researcher involvement, and availability of the ultracentrifuge will give these undergraduates (about 15-20 students per year) an opportunity to be trained on and use this piece of advanced laboratory equipment. The long-term reliability and functioning of the ultracentrifuge will be ensured by its inclusion in the common equipment managed by the Center for Developmental Neuroscience. This common equipment is managed by a PhD-level research associate who will ensure proper training of all users and organize instrument booking and usage logging as well as coordinating annual preventative maintenance visits and any necessary repairs. The ultracentrifuge requested here would allow the continuation and expansion of a diverse set of research projects with biomedical relevance and therefore significantly contribute to research capacity at the College of Staten Island, while also providing important opportunities for student training.
