Acquisition of Instrumentation for Proteome Analysis Core

在大卫A博士的监督下，明尼苏达大学圣保罗分校获得了一笔赠款。Bernlohr购买专用设施的设备和技术，称为蛋白质组分析核心。 分配给蛋白质组分析核心的资源将用于开发一个核心设施，用于快速，定量，大量检测植物，动物，昆虫和细菌的蛋白质。 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，但对于各种生物应用，包括生物鉴定、治疗或条件评价（生物反应）和发育评估（作物生长）是必不可少的。 该项目的第一个目标是为研究人员提供使用纳米级分离方法评估荧光标记蛋白质样品表达所需的实验技术。 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仪设施连接。 基于荧光的蛋白质检测与通过质谱进行的快速样品鉴定相结合，允许用户准确鉴定大量蛋白质，以满足各种基础和转化研究的需求。 具体来说，蛋白质组分析核心将指导研究人员使用差异凝胶电泳分析荧光标记的蛋白质。 研究人员反过来将能够识别蛋白质表达或蛋白质修饰的变化（底物-产物关系）。 使用机器人驱动的分析系统，从凝胶中收获靶蛋白，酶促消化，并将产生的肽点样到MALDI板上。 随后通过质谱法和使用基因组数据库分析肽，鉴定目的蛋白质。 短时间的分析加上机器人驱动的工作站允许放大和分析数百个蛋白质样品。 蛋白质组分析核心的主要主题是培训和教育。 相对于分析服务设施，蛋白质组分析核心培训学生，博士后和教师，使他们自己可以管理一个项目。 因此，该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位于明尼苏达大学圣保罗校区的BioDale技术走廊，因此它将与基因组分析、成像、质谱和生物工艺技术相关的其他设施相邻。 正在计划在学年和夏季课程中对学生进行蛋白质组学和质谱法方面的培训。 在夏季，参加生命科学本科研究计划的少数民族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。 这样一个培训网站的可用性将使明尼苏达大学吸引，培训和招募代表性不足的少数民族进入我们的本科和研究生课程，并最终进入科学和技术为基础的职业生涯。

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.