MRI-R2: Acquisition of a High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry System

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This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program Professor Deon Miles and colleague Robert E. Bachman from the University of the South will acquire a high performance, liquid-chromatograph, tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC/MS/MS) capable of handling high molecular mass materials. The instrument will be used to support research activities such as: 1) solution aggregates formed by platinum diimine complexes, 2) separation and identification of water-soluble semiconducting and metallic nanoparticles, 3) isolation and characterization of cardiolipin from skeletal muscle membrane phospholipid fatty acids, and 4) identification of S-nitrosylated proteins and their degree of nitrosylation.Mass spectrometry (MS) is used to identify the chemical composition of a sample and determine its purity by measuring the mass of the molecular constituents in the sample after they are ionized and detected by the mass spectrometer. High pressure liquid chromatography is an isolation technique that precedes the mass spectrometry analysis. It separates a mixture into its several constituent chemicals which are then analyzed by the mass spectrometer. These are widely used analytical techniques to identify and quantify the chemical composition of a sample. It is important for students to be trained using modern instrumentation. The research will have a significant impact in a number of areas, especially chemistry, materials chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research.