Protein analysis by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

有了这个奖项，化学部的化学测量和成像计划正在资助西密歇根大学的Andre Venter教授研究各种方法，通过解吸电喷雾电离质谱法（ESIMS）来改善蛋白质分子的分析。通过DESI对组织样本进行成像是辅助生物组织成像的重要新工具。电子显微镜成像的应用目前仅限于小分子，如脂质，脂肪酸和小分子的分析。开发分析蛋白质的能力将扩展成像EST-MS的能力，以确定蛋白质在生物相关组织中的空间分布。此外，文特尔教授将作出重大努力，以增加本科生的参与，特别是从研究中代表性不足的群体，并通过与WMU艺术学院格温·弗罗斯特的合作，教育公众对化学在他们的日常生活中的重要性。目前，当蛋白质分析的电喷雾质谱，灵敏度随着分子量的增加而下降，蛋白质溶解不良是主要原因。将分别和组合研究改善溶解和解吸的方法，例如加热、向DESI喷雾器中加入各种添加剂和延迟解吸的DESI喷雾器。 为了解释这些缓解策略的机制方面，Venter教授将分别研究在解吸和电离过程中，通过使用他们以前开发的喷雾解吸收集和反射电喷雾电离方法对溶解的影响。将进行双喷雾器DESI配置的构建和表征，以确定局部表面润湿和解吸之间的最佳延迟，从而在DESI分析期间最大化蛋白质的信噪比，同时保持横向分辨率。

With this award, the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry is funding Professor Andre Venter at Western Michigan University to investigate various methods to improve the analysis of protein molecules by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS). Imaging of tissue samples by DESI is an important new tool to aid in biological tissue imaging. DESI-imaging applications are currently limited to the analysis of small molecules such as lipids, fatty acids, and small molecules. Developing the ability to analyze proteins would extend the capabilities of imaging DESI-MS to determine the spatial distribution of proteins in biological relevant tissues. In addition, Professor Venter will make significant efforts to increase participation of undergraduate students, especially from underrepresented groups in research, and educate the general public about the importance of chemistry in their everyday life through collaboration with the Gwen Frostic School of Art at WMU.Currently when proteins are analyzed by DESI-MS, sensitivity decreases with increasing molecular weight, and poor protein dissolution has been implicated as the major cause. Methods to improve dissolution and desorption such as the application of heat, the addition of a variety of additives to the DESI spray and a delayed desorption DESI sprayer will be investigated separately and in combination. To decipher mechanistic aspects of these mitigation strategies, Professor Venter will separately investigate the effects on dissolution of each, during desorption and ionization by using their previously developed Spray Desorption Collection, and Reflective Electrospray Ionization methods. Construction and characterization of a dual-sprayer DESI configuration will be carried out to determine optimum delay between localized surface wetting and desorption to maximize signal to noise ratios of proteins during DESI analysis, while conserving lateral resolution.