Facility Overview

Some research in the Renal Division is conducted using a laser-scanning confocal/multiphoton-excitation fluorescence microscope with a Meta spectral detection system (Zeiss NLO 510 with META). This microscope is located in the Microscopy Core Facility under the direction of Andrew C. Millard, PhD and Moshe Levi, MD. This microscope allows for the high-resolution analysis of fixed samples as well as the time-resolved imaging of live cells. This and other microscopes are also set up to conduct biophysical studies in live cells such as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). These techniques are of considerable use in studying the dynamics of lipids and protein in live cells and the interactions of transcription factors and signaling molecules.

blood vessel in kidney
blue: collagen second harmonic generation
green: elastin two-photon autofluorescence

vascular smooth muscle cells
blue: nuclei stained with DAPI
green: actin immunolabeled with Alexa 488

Recent Publications

• PTH-Induced Internalization of Apical Membrane NaPi2a: Role of Actin and Myosin VI by Judith Blaine et al., American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology (Sept. 2009)
• Liver Cyst Cytokines Promote Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Development by Kelley Brodsky et al., Experimental Biology and Medicine (July 2009)
• Noggin Enhances Dopamine Neuron Production from Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Improves Behavioral Outcome after Transplantation into Parkinsonian Rats by Shunmai Chiba et al., Stem Cells (Sept. 2008)

Advisory Committee

• William Betz, PhD, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
• Eric Betzig, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• Enrico Gratton, PhD, University of California, Irvine
• Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, PhD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• William Mantulin, PhD, University of California, Irvine
• George Patterson, PhD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Diego Restrepo, PhD, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
• Hari Schroff, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• Bruce Tromberg, PhD, Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic
• Paul Wiseman, PhD, McGill University

UC Denver Participants

• Kurt Beam, PhD, Department of Physiology and Biophysics
• Tomas Berl, MD, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension
• Yolanda Bogaert, MD PhD, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension
• Peter Buttrick, MD, Division of Cardiology
• Sean Colgan, MD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Elizabeth Connick, MD, Division of Infectious Diseases
• Brian Doctor, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Gail Eckhardt, MD, Division of Medical Oncology
• Curt Freed, MD, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Glenn Furuta, MD, Gastrointestinal Eosinophil Disease Center
• Mark Geraci, MD, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine
• Michael Holers, MD, Division of Rheumatology
• John Hutton, PhD, Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes
• Chifong (Tim) Lei, PhD, Department of Electrical Engineering
• Simon Rock Levinson, PhD, Department of Physiology and Biophysics
• Susan Majka, PhD, Division of Cardiology
• James McManaman, PhD, Department of Physiology and Biophysics
• Raphael Nemenoff, PhD, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension
• Jane Reusch, MD, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes
• Hugo Rosen, MD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Pepper Schedin, PhD, Division of Medical Oncology
• Robert Schrier, MD, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension
• Natalie Serkova, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology
• Kurt Stenmark, MD, Department of Pediatrics
• Lisa Wise-Faberowski, PhD, Department of Anesthesioloy and Pediatric Cardiology