SHARED GAS CHROMATOGRAPH AND GC/MASS SPECTROMETER

该提案要求资金购买两种共享工具： Packard气相色谱/质谱/数据系统和Hewlett Packard气相色谱仪。 这些仪器将被一个庞大的团体使用 隶属于马萨诸塞州医学研究所的临床研究者 技术临床研究中心（MIT CRC）。 这两个工具，在 除了气体同位素比质谱仪和氨基酸 分析仪系统，正在要求在一个单独的建议，将形成 麻省理工CRC的一个主要的共享仪器设施。 主要用户群体的研究包括三个领域， 具有高产性：1）氨基酸的稳定同位素示踪探针 和基质代谢的条件下，健康，营养 功能不全、衰老和严重的代谢创伤和压力，2）大脑 功能和神经递质的合成反应的饮食因素， 作为氨基酸、碳水化合物和食品添加剂（甜菜碱），和3）脑 功能和行为在几种疾病，特别是阿尔茨海默病。 稳定同位素方法学的主要应用是在 区 目前GC/MS分析需要氨基酸和底物 新陈代谢是由一个复杂的网络与质量 其他机构的光谱分析设施。 进一步扩大这 研究计划是有限的，不是研究资金，而是沉重的 竞争现有的分析能力。 在其他两个研究 通过应用新的稳定同位素示踪剂， 技术和质谱分析方法， 但不幸的是，有限的GC/MS分析资源使这一建议成为可能。 除非获得新的资源。 因此，要求这些仪器缓解一个严重的 质谱分析能力的限制，以及 促进质谱新应用的发展， 人类大脑功能和新陈代谢的其他令人兴奋的领域。 位置 在麻省理工学院CRC附近的共享设施将促进培训， 年轻的临床研究人员在这项强大的新技术。

This proposal requests funds to purchase two shared instruments: a Hewlett Packard Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer/Data System and a Hewlett Packard Gas Chromatograph. These instruments will be used by a large group of clinical investigators affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clinical Research Center (MIT CRC). These two instruments, in addition to a gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer and an amino acid analyzer system which are being requested in a separate proposal, will form a major shared-instrument facility at the MIT CRC. The research of the major user group encompasses three areas, all of which have been highly productive: 1) Stable isotope tracer probes of amino acid and substrate metabolism under conditions of health, nutritional inadequacy, aging, and severe metabolic trauma and stress, 2) brain function and neurotransmitter synthesis in response to dietary factors such as amino acids, carbohydrate, and food additives (aspartame), and 3) brain function and behavior in several diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. The major application of stable isotope methodology has been in the first area. At present GC/MS analytic needs for amino acid and substrate metabolism are met by a complex network of collaboration with mass spectrometry facilities at other institutions. Further expansion of this research program is limited, not by research funding but by heavy competition for existing analytic capabilities. Research in the other two areas would be greatly enhanced by applying new stable isotope tracer techniques and mass spectrometry analytic methods in ways outlined in the proposal, but unfortunately, limited GC/MS analytic resources make this impossible unless new resources are acquired. Therefore, these instruments have been requested to relieve a critical limitation in mass spectrometry analytic capability, as well as to facilitate the development of new applications of mass spectrometry to other exciting areas of human brain function and metabolism. The location of the shared facility in proximity to the MIT CRC will promote training of young clinical investigators in this powerful new technology.