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

将购买一套配备自动进样器的台式毛细管气相色谱仪/质谱仪系统，以取代目前昆虫学系使用的过时的气相色谱/质谱系统。该仪器将生成经典质谱，对复杂混合物中痕量生物活性成分的分析具有高灵敏度，对日常分析具有高可靠性，并且易于操作和维护。该仪器将用于4个co - pi的日常研究项目。PI将监督仪器的使用，两名化学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：鉴定昆虫信息素腺体中独特的去饱和酶基因；蓝莓天然杀菌剂的分离与鉴定从不同种类的横毛蝇寄主植物中鉴定关键挥发性化合物，这一直是同域物种形成争论的中心；不饱和酸商业化生产酵母表达体系的建立土壤节肢动物寻找寄主中重要根挥发物的鉴定并对几种鞘翅土食性害虫的性信息素成分进行了研究。这些项目将密切协调行为研究和气相色谱/质谱分析，对空气中收集的样品中的微量生物活性物质进行分析。气相色谱/质谱将成为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capillary gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system equipped with anautoinjector will be purchased to replace an outdated GC/MS currently used in the Entomology Department.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.