Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-HRMS)

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We apply for an Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer for the metabolomic investigation of microorganisms and microbial communities. The instrument will mainly serve to monitor the metabolic responses of microorganisms to different interaction partners within communities and to identify signaling metabolites that regulate the community structure. Model communities from laboratory experiments as well as samples from mesocosm and fieldwork will be investigated by exploiting the power of modern mass spectrometry. The instrument will contribute to a platform for several groups organized within the CRCs ChemBioSys and AquaDiva and it will be part of the instrument park of the EXC Balance of the Microverse. Metabolomics is a mature technique that allows the monitoring of metabolic changes within given biological systems. It serves as a method for hypothesis generation by identification of metabolic pathways that are regulated in response to external factors, such as stress or the presence of interaction partners. With powerful chemoinformatic support, large datasets can be mined for metabolites that are candidate chemical mediators. Especially the high resolution of modern mass spectrometers and the fast scan rate allows for the comprehensive characterization of metabolites. The sensitivity of the newest instrument generation will allow, on the one hand, to address even trace compounds within complex natural samples but also enable miniaturization and monitoring of samples generated, e.g., from microfluidics experiments. The resulting mass spectrometric data will also form the basis for the development of new chemoinformatics approaches for computer-aided structure elucidation. On the one hand, this instrument will thus advance research in method-developing analytical chemistry and support activities in the department of bioorganic analytics. On the other hand, it will also enable collaborative projects within larger consortia within the faculties of biosciences, faculty of chemistry and earth sciences and the faculty for mathematics and informatics. The device will thus have an important function at the Jena site as a platform technology for numerous research activities.