A Bench-top Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer for Biologically Significant Compounds and Enzyme Functional Assay Analyses

9988599温德尔·罗伊洛夫斯用于生物重要化合物和酶功能分析的台式GC/MS将购买配备自动进样器的台式毛细管气相色谱/质谱仪系统，以取代昆虫学系目前使用的过时的GC/MS。该仪器将产生经典的质谱图，对复杂混合物中的微量生物活性成分的分析具有高度的灵敏度，对于日常的常规分析具有高度的可靠性，并且将设计为易于操作和维护。该仪器将用于4个合作绩效指标的研究项目的日常工作。PI将监督仪器的使用，两名化学家博士后将提供日常操作和维护。将使用GC/MS的研究项目包括：从昆虫信息素腺体中鉴定独特的去饱和酶基因；分离和鉴定蓝莓中一种自然发生的杀菌剂；从不同种类的树脂蝇的寄主植物中鉴定关键的挥发性化合物，这一直是关于共生物种形成的争议的中心；为商业生产不饱和酸的酵母表达系统的产生；通过土壤节肢动物鉴定在寻找寄主方面重要的根挥发物；以及表征几种鞘翅目土壤中的性信息素成分。这些项目将包括密切协调行为研究和对空中收集的样本中微量生物活性物质的GC/MS分析。GC/MS将是昆虫学系上述项目的宝贵资源，并将为博士后和研究生提供培训和研究机会。

9988599Wendell RoelofsA bench-top GC/MS for Biologically Significant Compounds and Enzyme Functional Assay AnalysesA benchtop capillary gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system equipped with anautoinjector will be purchased to replace an outdated GC/MS currently used in the Entomology Department. The instrument will generate classical mass spectra, be highly sensitive for the analysis of trace biologically active components from complex mixtures, be highly reliable for daily routine analyses, and would be designed for easy operation and maintenance. The instrument will be used on a daily basis for research programs of the 4 Co-PIs. The PI will supervise instrument usage and two chemist postdocs will provide daily operations and maintenance.Research projects that will use the GC/MS include the following: characterization of unique desaturase genes from insect pheromone glands; isolation and identification of a naturally occurring fungicide in blueberry; the identification of key volatile compounds from host plants of various species of Rhagoletis flies, which have been the center of a controversial discussion on sympatric speciation; the generation a yeast expression system for commercial production of unsaturated acids; identification of root volatiles important in host finding by soil arthropods; and for characterization of sex pheromone components in several coleopterous soil feeding pests. These projects will involve close coordination of behavioral studies and GC/MS analysis of minute quantities of biologically active materials in airborne-collected samples. The GC/MS will be an invaluable resource in the Department of Entomology for the above projects and will provide training and research opportunities for postdocs and graduate students.