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

有了这项来自主要研究仪器（MRI）计划和化学部的奖项，蒙大拿大学的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朗将获得一台MALDI-TOF质谱仪。 此次收购旨在加强各级的研究培训和教育，特别是在将影响蛋白质组学研究的研究领域：突触囊泡，有机磷杀虫剂的细胞靶点，沙粒病毒的复制/转录复合物和脂化毒力因子。 它将用于蛋白质生物化学研究调查：与G蛋白活化相关的蛋白质动力学的基本方面，淀粉样蛋白/朊病毒蛋白病理学特定的蛋白质聚集，细胞外基质蛋白纤连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。 质谱仪（MS）用于鉴定样品的化学成分，通过测量样品中分子成分的质量，确定样品的化学成分。质谱仪（MS）用于鉴定样品的化学成分，通过测量样品中分子成分的质量，确定样品的化学成分。 基质辅助激光解吸电离（MALDI）是一种用于在注入质谱仪之前制备待通过激光电离的样品的技术。 飞行时间（TOF）质量分析仪具有高灵敏度和质量精度，以帮助分析和解释所得数据。 这一开放获取工具将可用于培训几个系的学生使用这一分析工具。它将被本科生用于研究和实验室教学课程，并在蒙大拿州保留地或附近的部落学院和高中与美洲原住民学生进行外联。

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.