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

9988599Wendell Roelofs用于生物学重要化合物和酶功能测定分析的台式GC/MS将购买配备自动进样器的台式毛细管气相色谱仪/质谱仪系统，以取代昆虫学系目前使用的过时GC/MS。该仪器将产生经典的质谱，对复杂混合物中痕量生物活性成分的分析高度敏感，对日常分析高度可靠，设计上易于操作和维护。该仪器将每天用于4个共同研究所的研究方案。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：昆虫信息素腺体中独特的去饱和酶基因的表征;蓝莓中天然存在的杀菌剂的分离和鉴定;从不同种类的Rhagoletis蝇的宿主植物中鉴定出关键的挥发性化合物，这一直是同域物种形成的有争议的讨论的中心;酵母表达系统的产生用于不饱和酸的商业化生产;根挥发物的鉴定在土壤节肢动物寻找宿主中的重要性;以及几种鞘翅目土壤取食害虫的性信息素组分的表征。这些项目将涉及密切协调行为研究和对空气中收集的样品中微量生物活性物质进行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capillary gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system equipped with anautoinjector will be purchased to replace an outdated GC/MS currently used in the Entomology Department.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.