Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry

该项目旨在研究脂类的结构多样性。脂类是所有生物分子中结构最多样化的一种，因此，破译其众多功能需要生物分析技术，能够在数千种类似物的环境中唯一地识别和量化单个分子。质谱学是当代脂类分析的卓越技术，但受到某些脂类偏爱电离的挑战，这种电离提供了灵敏的检测，但不允许详细的结构阐明。该项目将开发能够按需对电离脂质进行极性转换的先进仪器，从而使分子结构的检测和询问能够在最佳电荷状态下进行。

This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of certain lipids to ionise with a polarity that affords sensitive detection but does not permit detailed structure elucidation. This project will develop advanced instrumentation capable of on-demand polarity switching of ionised lipids such that the detection and interrogation of molecular structure can take place in the optimal charge state.