Protein analysis by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

凭借该奖项，化学系的化学测量和成像项目正在资助西密歇根大学的 Andre Venter 教授研究通过解吸电喷雾电离质谱 (DESI-MS) 改进蛋白质分子分析的各种方法。 DESI 组织样本成像是辅助生物组织成像的重要新工具。 DESI 成像应用目前仅限于脂质、脂肪酸等小分子的分析。开发蛋白质分析能力将扩展 DESI-MS 成像的能力，以确定生物相关组织中蛋白质的空间分布。此外，Venter 教授将做出巨大努力，提高本科生的参与度，尤其是研究中代表性不足的群体，并通过与 WMU 的 Gwen Frostic 艺术学院合作，教育公众了解化学在日常生活中的重要性。目前，当通过 DESI-MS 分析蛋白质时，灵敏度随着分子量的增加而降低，而蛋白质溶解不良被认为是主要原因。将单独和组合研究改善溶解和解吸的方法，例如加热、在 DESI 喷雾中添加各种添加剂以及延迟解吸 DESI 喷雾器。 为了破译这些缓解策略的机制，文特尔教授将使用他们之前开发的喷雾解吸收集和反射电喷雾电离方法，分别研究解吸和电离过程中每种方法对溶解的影响。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，以最大限度地提高 DESI 分析过程中蛋白质的信噪比，同时保留横向分辨率。

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.