Sieve element plastids: an elusive organelle
Year: 2026
Type: article
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology
DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcag114
Authors: Viktoriya V Vasina, Michael Knoblauch
Institution: Washington State University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: closed
Awards: Testing the High-Pressure Manifold Model of Phloem Transport and Unloading, PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS $2,500,000 PROJECT IS TO PROCURE A NEW TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (TEM) SYSTEM AND REPLACE OUTDATED ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT THAT WILL OPEN NEW RESEARCH AVENUES AND SERVE THE VISUALIZATION NEEDS OF LIFE SCIENTISTS, MATERIAL SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AT WSU AS WELL AS NEIGHBORING INDUSTRY AND INSTITUTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE FRANCESCHI MICROSCOPY & IMAGING CENTER (FMIC) AT WSU CURRENTLY HOUSES A FEI T-20 TEM WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2011. THE FMIC¿S TEMN IS A CRITICAL INSTRUMENT FOR THE 40 TO 50 GROUPS WHO RELY ON IT EACH YEAR. HOWEVER, WITH ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY, THE 13-YEAR-OLD TEM HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY OUT-MODED, ESPECIALLY TO CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN MULTIPLE FIELDS. WSU ESTIMATES THAT IT IS ONLY OPERATING AT 60% OF POTENTIAL RESEARCH CAPACITY. WSU PROPOSES A 24 MONTH PROJECT TO ACQUIRE AND INSTALL A NEW TEM. THE EQUIPMENT WILL REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE IN TECHNOLOGY IN SEVERAL WAYS. THE PROPOSED INSTRUMENT WILL BE A JEOL JEM F200 4D STEM (OR SIMILAR) WITH A COLD FIELD EMISSION ELECTRON SOURCE AND DUAL HIGH-RESOLUTION CAMERAS (16K VS. CURRENT 4K). IN ADDITION, WSU ALSO WILL UPGRADE SEVERAL PIECES OF ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT (MEDIUM QUALITY LIGHT MICROSCOPE, MACROSCOPE, SPUTTER COATER, ULTRAMICROTOME, GLOW DISCHARGER, DIAMOND KNIVES, AND SUPPLIES) THAT WILL BE UTILIZED IN SUPPORT OF SAMPLE PREPARATION. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE: WSU¿S ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE MOST PROMISING RESEARCH, STUDENTS, AND FACULTY; EXPANDED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FACILITATED BY THE INCREASE IN RESEARCH CAPABILITIES FROM THE NEW TEM; INCREASING CAPABILITIES FOR A WIDER RANGE AND NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS ON CAMPUS; ENHANCING WSU¿S COMPETITIVE POSITION IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROPOSALS; RESTORING AND DEVELOPING RIGOROUS, HAND-ON TEACHING AND TRAINING CAPACITY; AND STRENGTHENING WSU¿S ABILITY TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE WSU RESEARCH COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE IMPROVED RESEARCH CAPABILITIES OF THE FMIC, AS WELL AS OTHER WSU SYSTEM RESEARCHERS FROM THE REGION WHO USE THE FMIC. THE KINDS OF RESEARCH SUPPORTED BY THE FMIC WILL HELP ADDRESS LONGSTANDING AND URGENT CHALLENGES TO ADVANCE FOOD PRODUCTION AND HELP MITIGATE FOOD INSECURITY, ACCELERATE MEDICAL INNOVATIONS, DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES, AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION AND SUSTAINABILITY. ALSO, STUDENTS FROM WSU WILL BENEFIT FROM THE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE HANDS-ON TRAINING OF A STATE-OF-THE-ART SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.
OpenAlex ID: W7204240550