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

通过主要研究仪器（MRI）项目和化学部门的奖励，来自蒙大拿大学的Bruce Bowler和同事Charles Thompson， Michele McGuirl， Klara Briknarova和Stephen Sprang将获得MALDI-TOF质谱仪。此次收购的目的是加强各级的研究培训和教育，特别是在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/转录复合体和脂化毒力因子。它将用于蛋白质生物化学研究：与g蛋白激活相关的蛋白质动力学的基本方面，淀粉样蛋白/朊蛋白病理特异性的蛋白质聚集，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传感应用的新型化学修饰纳米颗粒和聚酮类抗生素。质谱仪（MS）是通过测量样品中分子组分电离后经质谱仪检测后的质量，来鉴定样品的化学成分。基质辅助激光解吸电离（MALDI）是一种将样品在注入质谱仪前用激光电离的技术。飞行时间（TOF）质量分析仪具有高灵敏度和质量精度，有助于分析和解释所得数据。这个开放获取的仪器将用于培训几个系的学生使用这个分析工具。它将被本科生用于研究和实验室教学课程，并在蒙大拿州部落学院和保留地或附近的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.