MRI: Acquisition of a MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometer for Research and Education

获得这一奖项的主要研究仪器(MRI)计划和化学部，布鲁斯·鲍勒和同事查尔斯·汤普森，米歇尔·麦奎尔，克拉拉·布里克纳罗娃和斯蒂芬·斯普林恩来自蒙大拿大学将获得MALDI-TOF质谱仪。此次收购旨在加强所有层面的研究培训和教育，特别是在将影响以下蛋白质组学研究的领域：突触小泡、有机磷杀虫剂的细胞靶标、ArenaVirus的复制/转录复合体以及脂化毒力因子。它将用于以下蛋白质生物化学研究：与G蛋白激活有关的蛋白质动力学的基本方面，淀粉样蛋白/普里恩蛋白病理特有的蛋白质聚集，细胞外基质蛋白纤维连接蛋白的生理重要聚集，参与色氨酸生物合成的酶的催化机制，以及用于生物燃料生产的工程嗜热酶。它还将用于表征用于金属敏感应用的新型化学修饰纳米粒子和聚酮抗生素。质谱仪(MS)用于通过测量样品中的分子组成的质量来识别样品的化学组成，样品被电离并由质谱仪检测。基质辅助激光解吸电离(MALDI)是一种在将样品注入质谱仪之前用激光电离样品的技术。飞行时间(TOF)质谱仪具有高灵敏度和高质量准确度，可帮助分析和解释结果数据。这一开放获取的仪器将用于培训几个系的学生如何使用这一分析工具。本科生将在研究和实验室教学课程中使用它，并在蒙大拿州保留地或附近的部落大学和高中向美国原住民学生推广。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program and the Chemistry Division, Bruce Bowler and colleagues Charles Thompson, Michele McGuirl, Klara Briknarova and Stephen Sprang from University of Montana will acquire a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. The acquisition is aimed at enhancing research training and education at all levels, especially in areas of study that will impact proteomics research on: synaptic vesicles, cellular targets of organophosphate insecticides, the replication/transcription complex of arenaviruses, and lipidated virulence factors. It will be used for protein biochemistry research investigating: fundamental aspects of protein dynamics related to G-protein activation, protein aggregation specific to the pathology of amyloids/prion proteins, the physiologically-important aggregation of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, the catalytic mechanisms of enzymes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis, and engineered thermophilic enzymes for use in biofuel production. It will also be used to characterize new chemically-modified nanoparticles for metal-sensing applications, and polyketide antibiotics.Mass spectrometers (MS) are used to identify the chemical composition of a sample by measuring the mass of the molecular constituents in the sample after they are ionized and detected by the mass spectrometer. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a technique for preparing the sample to be ionized by a laser before injection into the mass spectrometer. The time of flight (TOF) mass analyzer has high sensitivity and mass accuracy to assist the analyses and interpretation of the resultant data. This open access instrument will be available for training students in several departments in the use of this analytical tool. It will be used by undergraduate students in research and in laboratory instruction courses and in outreach to Native American students in tribal colleges and in high schools on or near reservations in Montana.