MALDI TOF MASS SPECTROMETER

MALDI-TOF质谱仪(MS)正迅速成为蛋白质组和基因组研究以及许多辅助应用的首选技术。然而，这种仪器超出了大多数单独实验室的能力范围。在这个机构，至少有五个由NIH资助的主要实验室(下文)将从MALDI-TOF MS技术的注入中获得巨大好处。该机构的潜在MALDI-TOF应用涵盖了至少13项目前正在进行的NIH赠款的具体目标，可能涵盖MALDI-TOF技术应用的每一个主要当代领域。此外，我们的潜在应用将涵盖四个主要生物大分子中的三个(即。核酸、蛋白质和碳水化合物)。关于蛋白质组学应用，MALDI-TOF仪器应使主要用户群体(下文)内的用户能够(A)对重组蛋白质进行“质量控制”以确认身份和是否有修饰，(B)识别已知蛋白质中的分离多肽片段，(C)确定蛋白质修饰的特征，以及(D)识别未知伙伴。Biacore仪器在该研究所的存在促进了BIA/MS应用的实验。关于核酸，用户希望(A)检查合成寡核苷酸是否有适当的修饰和去保护作用，(B)确定合成短小RNA的特征，(C)对环境引起的突变进行高通量基因分型。关于碳水化合物，我们期待MALDI-TOF技术在表征糖蛋白衍生的寡糖链方面发挥独特的作用。此外，我们还展望了在有机合成产品表征方面的小用途应用。目前，还没有MALDI-TOF仪器可以满足上述任何需求，也没有一种近乎令人满意的方式。为了顺应MALDI-TOF令人兴奋的技术进步浪潮，我们请求为一台多功能、功能强大的中档MALDI-TOF仪器提供资金，该仪器具有足够的灵敏度、质量分辨率和质量精度，以满足我们的多样化需求。我们觉得我们有一个强有力的计划，让这里描述的NIH资助的教职员工公平、共享地使用它。

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) is rapidly becoming a technique of choice for proteomic and genomic studies as well as a host of supporting applications. However, the instrumentation is beyond the reach of most individual labs. At this institution, at least five, major NIH- funded labs (below) would benefit enormously from the infusion of MALDI-TOF MS technology. Potential MALDI-TOF applications at this institution span the specific aims of at least thirteen currently active NIH grants, probably covering each of the major, contemporary areas of application of MALDI-TOF technology. Moreover, our potential applications would cover three of the four major groups of biological macromolecule (viz. nucleic acid, protein, and carbohydrate). With regard to proteomics applications, MALDI-TOF instrumentation should enable users within the major user group (below) to (a) `quality control' recombinant proteins for identity confirmation and the presence/absence of modification, (b) identify isolated peptide fragments within known proteins, (c) characterize protein modifications, and (d) identify unknown partners. The presence of a BIAcore instrument within this institute facilitates experimentation with BIA/MS applications. With regard to nucleic acids the users would wish to (a) check synthetic oligonucleotides for appropriate modification and deprotection, (b) characterize short synthetic RNAs (c) Perform high-throughput genotyping of environmentally-induced mutations. With regard to carbohydrates, we would expect MALDI-TOF technology to play a unique role in the characterization of glycoprotein-derived oligosaccharide chains. In addition to the above, we envisage minor-use applications in the characterization of organic synthesis products. Currently, there is no MALDI-TOF instrument available to meet any of these needs an a manner that is anywhere near satisfactory. To ride the exciting wave of technological advancement in MALDI-TOF, we request funding for a versatile, powerful, midrange MALDI-TOF instrument of sufficient sensitivity, mass resolution and mass accuracy to fulfill our diverse needs. We feel we have a strong plan for its equitable, shared use between the colleaguial group of NIH-funded faculty described herein.