Acquisition of Instrumentation for Proteome Analysis Core

明尼苏达大学圣彼得堡分校获得了一笔赠款。在David A.Bernlohr博士的监督下，他在一家名为蛋白质组分析核心的专用设施中购买了设备和技术。分配给蛋白质组分析核心的资源将用于开发快速、定量、大量检测来自植物、动物、昆虫和细菌的蛋白质的核心设施。从混合物和提取物中快速检测和鉴定大量特定蛋白质在技术上是困难的，但对于包括生物鉴定、处理或条件评估(生物反应)和发展评估(作物生长)在内的各种生物应用是必不可少的。该项目的第一个目标是为研究人员提供必要的实验技术，以使用纳米级分离方法评估荧光标记蛋白质样本的表达。该技术的第二个组成部分是利用机器人驱动的样品分析工作站，该工作站将与现有的质谱分析设施对接。结合基于荧光的蛋白质检测和通过质谱学的快速样品识别，用户可以准确识别大量蛋白质，以满足各种基础和翻译研究需求。具体地说，蛋白质组分析核心将指导研究人员使用差异凝胶内电泳来分析荧光标记的蛋白质。研究人员反过来将能够确定蛋白质表达或蛋白质修饰(前体-产物关系)的变化。使用机器人驱动的分析系统，目标蛋白将从凝胶中收获，经过酶消化，产生的多肽将被斑点到MALDI平板上。这些多肽随后通过质谱仪和使用基因组数据库进行分析，识别感兴趣的蛋白质。分析时间短，加上机器人驱动的工作站，可以放大和分析数百个蛋白质样本。蛋白质组分析核心的主要主题之一是培训和教育。与分析服务设施不同，蛋白质组分析核心培训学生、博士后和教职员工，使他们自己能够管理项目。因此，这项技术对于培养学生在作物和动物科学、园艺、生物修复和环境科学等不同研究领域具有广泛的意义。由于蛋白质组分析核心将实际位于明尼苏达大学圣保罗校区的BioDale技术走廊，因此它将毗邻与基因组分析、成像、质谱学和生物过程技术相关的其他设施。计划在学年和暑期课程期间对学生进行蛋白质组学和质谱学方面的培训。暑假期间，参加生命科学本科生研究计划的少数族裔学者将通过研讨会和自己的研究项目利用蛋白质组分析核心。这样一个培训地点的提供将使明尼苏达大学能够吸引、培训和招募代表人数不足的少数族裔进入我们的本科生和研究生课程，并最终进入基于科学和技术的职业生涯。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Minnesota-St. Paul, under the supervision of Dr. David A. Bernlohr to purchase equipment and technology in a dedicated facility termed the proteome analysis core. The resources allocated to the proteome analysis core will be used to develop a core facility for rapid, quantitative, high-volume detection of proteins from plants, animals, insects and bacteria. The rapid detection and identification of large numbers of specific proteins from mixtures and extracts is technically difficult, but is essential for a variety of biological applications including bio-identification, evaluation of treatment or conditions (bio-responses) and assessment of development (crop growth). The first goal of the project is to provide researchers with the experimental technology necessary to assess expression of fluorescently labeled protein samples using nano-scale separation methodologies. The second component of the technology is the utilization of a robotically driven sample analysis workstation that will interface with an existing mass spectrometry facility. The combination of fluorescence-based protein detection coupled with rapid sample identification via mass spectrometry allows the user accurate identification of large numbers of proteins for a variety of basic and translational research needs. Specifically, the proteome analysis core will instruct researchers on the use of differential in-gel electrophoresis for the analysis of fluorescently labeled proteins. The researcher will in turn be able to identify changes in protein expression or protein modification (precursor-product relationship). Using a robotically driven analysis system, target proteins will be harvested from the gel, enzymatically digested, and the produced peptides spotted onto a MALDI plate. The peptides are subsequently analyzed via mass spectrometry and using genome databases, identify proteins of interest. The short time of analysis coupled with robotically driven workstation allows for scale-up and the analysis of hundreds of samples of proteins. The major theme of the proteome analysis core is one of training and education. As opposed to an analytical service facility, the proteome analysis core trains students, postdocs, and faculty such that they themselves can manage a project. As such, the technology has broad significance for training students in such diverse research areas such as crop and animal science, horticulture, bioremediation, and environmental science. Because the proteome analysis core will be physically located in the BioDale technology corridor on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, it will be adjacent to other facilities linked to Genome Analysis, Imaging, Mass Spectrometry and Bioprocess Technology. Course work, both during the academic year and during summer session, are being planned to train students in proteomics and mass spectrometry. During the summer, minority scholars participating in the Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Program will make use of the proteome analysis core through workshops and their own research projects. The availability of such a training site will allow the Univesity of Minnesota to attract, train, and recruit underrepresented minorities into our undergraduate and graduate programs and ultimately into science and technology based careers.