MRI: Acquisition of a Next-Generation High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer with Ion Mobility Separation

该奖项由主要研究仪器项目和化学研究仪器项目支持。德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校正在购买一台具有离子迁移率(IM)分离和大气压化学电离源的高分辨率四极飞行时间质谱仪(Q-TOF MS)，以支持Wendell Griffith博士及其同事Michael Doyle、Aimin Liu、Francis Yoshimoto和Audrey Lamb(来自堪萨斯大学)。通常，质谱仪是用于鉴定和表征复杂样品中少量化学物种的关键分析方法之一。离子迁移率是一种根据气相离子与碰撞气体的相互作用来分离气相离子的方法，取决于它们的质量。首先，当离子在缓冲气体中移动时，它们被快速分离，然后被引入质量分析仪。它在蛋白质组学和代谢组学中对复杂样品的分析是非常有用的。在飞行时间(TOF)质谱学方法中，离子的质荷比是通过离子被已知强度的电场加速的方式来确定的。离子的速度取决于质荷比(相同电荷的较重离子达到较低的速度)。测量离子在已知距离到达探测器所需的时间。这一时间取决于离子的速度，因此是其质荷比的量度。根据这个比率和已知的实验参数，可以对离子进行表征。此次收购加强了这个拉美裔服务机构和地区的研究基础设施。该仪器通过让不同的学生参与到这一现代分析技术中来扩大参与。它也被南得克萨斯大学和堪萨斯大学的主要本科生机构的合作者使用。IM-Q-TOF MS系统的获奖旨在加强所有级别的研究和教育。它特别适用于研究细菌中鸦片类金属载体的合成途径，以开发抗菌药物；鸦片类金属载体是在植物肿瘤中发现的低分子化合物，可以从宿主中提取金属离子。该仪器还用于了解分子内交联辅助因子对双加氧酶结构和功能的影响，以及扩大对青蒿素生物合成的知识，青蒿素是一种含有内源性过氧化物质的植物天然产物，用于治疗疟疾。该仪器还为开发立体选择性合成结构复杂有机化合物的新催化方法的研究人员以及那些试图更深入地了解昆虫气味接受动力学的研究人员提供服务。质谱仪也是表征可能与阿尔茨海默病和慢性疼痛相关的血脂的关键。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation programs. The University of Texas San Antonio is acquiring a high-resolution quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF MS) with ion mobility (IM) separation and an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source to support Dr. Wendell Griffith and colleagues Michael Doyle, Aimin Liu, Francis Yoshimoto and Audrey Lamb (from Kansas University). In general, mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the key analytical methods used to identify and characterize small quantities of chemical species in complex samples. Ion mobility is a method that separates gas phase ions based on their interaction with a collision gas depending on their masses. First the ions are quickly separated as they move on a buffer gas and then introduced into the mass analyzer. It is useful to analyze complex samples in proteomics and metabolomics. In the time-of-flight (TOF) method of mass spectrometry, the mass-to-charge ratio of an ion is determined by the way in which ions are accelerated by an electric field of known strength. The velocity of the ion depends on the mass-to-charge ratio (heavier ions of the same charge reach lower speeds). The time that the ions take to reach a detector at a known distance is measured. This time depends on the velocity of the ion, and therefore is a measure of its mass-to-charge ratio. From this ratio and known experimental parameters, the ion can be characterized. The acquisition strengthens the research infrastructure at this Hispanic Serving Institution and regional area. The instrument broadens participation by involving diverse students with this modern analytical technique. It is also used by collaborators at primarily undergraduate institutions in South Texas as well as the University of Kansas.The award of the IM-Q-TOF MS system is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. It is especially useful for studying opine metallophore synthetic pathways in bacterial with the aim of developing antimicrobial drugs; the opine metallophores are low molecular weight compounds found in plant tumors which extract metal ions from the host. The instrumentation is also used for understanding the effect of intramolecular crosslink cofactors to dioxygenase enzyme structure and function, as well as expanding knowledge of the biosynthesis of artemisinin, an endoperoxide containing plant natural product used to treat malaria. The instrument also serves researchers developing new catalytic approaches to stereoselective syntheses of structurally complex organic compounds and those trying to gain deeper insight into the kinetics of insect odorant reception. The mass spectrometer is also essential to characterize lipids that might be associated with Alzheimer's disease and chronic pain.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.