A Gas Chromatograph - Mass Spectrometer for Measurement of Plant Metabolites

该合同支持博伊斯·汤普森研究所(BTI)和康奈尔大学的研究人员购买串联四极柱气相色谱-质谱仪(GC-MS/MS)系统。最近在质谱学方面的技术进步使得对植物和其他生物细胞中发现的小分子的检测和测量达到了前所未有的规模，在GC-MS/MS的单次运行中可以检测到数百个小分子。这种全面的代谢物图谱(代谢组学)技术对于理解新获得的关于一些生物体基因组序列的详细信息的生物学意义至关重要。GC-MS/MS将加强十多名研究人员目前的研究项目，他们将使用该仪器测量各种初级和次级代谢物。这些代谢物包括果实成熟过程中积累的糖类、氨基酸、参与防御信号的植物激素、草食诱导的挥发物、专职草食动物对寄主植物识别的分子以及对草食动物的化学威慑等。虽然GC-MS/MS将设在BTI，但它的用途将扩展到更大的康奈尔研究社区和附近的其他学术机构。通过研究生和博士后培训计划，该仪器将为培养下一代科学家和教育工作者做出贡献。由于植物防御、光信号、发育和营养品质知识的提高，BTI进行的这项研究有望在作物植物改良方面发挥重要作用。该仪器还将通过BTI植物基因组研究实习计划帮助培训本科生和高中生，该计划特别强调招收在所有植物研究领域代表性不足的少数族裔学生，以及来自实验室研究不是教育计划主要重点的较小大学的学生。

This award supports acquisition of a tandem quadrupole gas chromatograph - mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS) system to be used by investigators at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Cornell University. Recent technical advances in mass spectrometry permit the detection and measurement of small molecules found in the cells of plants and other organisms to be performed on an unprecedented scale, with hundreds of small molecules being detected in a single run of a GC-MS/MS. Such comprehensive metabolite profiling (metabolomics) technology is critical to progress in understanding the biological significance of newly available, detailed information about the genomic sequences of a number of organisms. The GC-MS/MS will enhance the current research projects of more than a dozen investigators, who will use this instrument for measuring a large variety of primary and secondary metabolites. These metabolites include sugars deposited during fruit ripening, amino acids, plant hormones involved in defensive signaling, herbivory-induced volatiles, molecules mediating host plant recognition by specialist herbivores, and chemical deterrents of herbivory, among others. Although the GC-MS/MS will be located at BTI, its utility will extend to the larger Cornell research community and other nearby academic institutions. Through graduate and postdoctoral training programs, the instrument will contribute to the training of the next generation of scientists and educators. The research conducted at BTI is expected to have an important role in crop plant improvements as the result of improved knowledge of plant defense, light signaling, development, and nutritional quality. The instrument will also help in the training of undergraduate and high school students through the BTI Plant Genome Research internship program, which places particular emphasis on recruiting minority students, who are underrepresented in all areas of plant research, and students from smaller colleges where laboratory research is not a major focus of the educational program.