Elektrospray-Ionisation (ESI) mass spectrometry system for protein analyses

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Research of the Plant Proteomics department of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Leibniz Universität Hannover is focused on molecular processes of plants on the level of proteins and proteomes. Protein mass spectrometry is at the very center of our projects. In addition, our department is engaged in analyzing protein fractions from various other Institutes of the Herrenhausen campus of Leibniz Universität Hannover. Currently, our department is running two mass spectrometry systems for protein analyses which are used to capacity. Mass spectrometry systems much evolved during the last decade. The requested new mass spectrometry system would significantly enhance the research capabilities of our department and allows investigating molecular functions of plants in a depth currently not possible for us.The plant proteomics department is especially interested in exploring the energy biology of plants, particularly the functions of cellular respiration in the context of photosynthesis and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Several of these functions depend on proteins and protein-protein interactions. We employ “complexome profiling” for systematically characterizing protein-protein interactions. This experimental approach is based on analyzing large numbers of protein fractions by proteomic shotgun-experiments, which requires a fast mass spectrometry system. Furthermore, we plan to investigate the functions of organelles of specific cell types of plant organs. For this, mitochondria are marked with tagged proteins in a cell-type specific manner, which allows their targeted isolation. Resulting protein fractions are of very low quantity and their proteomic analysis requires a highly sensitive mass spectrometry system. Finally, signal transduction pathways regulating molecular functions of plants shall be investigated, particularly those steps which are based on the binding of ligands to specific protein targets. Experiments are based on using „Tandem mass tags“ (TMTs) and require a high-resolution mass spectrometry system. The requested mass spectrometry system is perfectly suitable for the planned research projects. The research described here will give new insights into molecular functions of plants relevant for increasing plant yield and for improving plant stress tolerance.