Acquisition of A Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometer

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。根据化学研究仪器和设施：多用户计划（CRIF:MU）的这份合同，罗切斯特大学化学系将获得一个基质辅助激光解吸/电离飞行时间（MALDI-TOF）质谱仪，用于研究大分子，如生物聚合物、常规聚合物和聚合物样材料。此次收购将用于各种研究，包括：a)研究血红素蛋白的构象变化和动力学；B)铁的不饱和活性催化配合物的探索；C)理解产生蛋白质结构和功能的分子识别原理；D)新型半导体纳米材料的光物理性质研究；E)核酸二级结构导致表面选择性吸附的机理研究；f)从序列信息快速预测RNA结构的研究；g)研究获取非挥发性配体的分子质量信息，以构建天然物质，如apoptolidin和nakadomarin . maldi - tof质谱法是获得非常大分子精确分子量的首选技术，具有极高的灵敏度。因此，使用MALDI-TOF质谱仪已成为一种标准技术，特别是在涉及生物分子和聚合物的研究中。这项研究将在许多领域产生重大影响，特别是化学和生物化学。该仪器将成为教学和研究的一个组成部分，包括参加暑期研究项目的本科和高中教师。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Multiuser program (CRIF:MU), the Chemistry Department at the University of Rochester will acquire a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer for the study of large molecules such as biopolymers, regular polymers and polymer-like materials. The acquisition will be used in a variety of research studies including: a) the study of conformational changes and dynamics of heme proteins; b) exploration of unsaturated, reactive catalytic complexes of iron; c) understanding the principles of molecular recognition that give rise to the structure and function of proteins; d) investigations of the photophysical properties of novel semiconductor nanometer scale materials; e) mechanistic studies of the secondary structure of nucleic acids leading to selective adsorption on surfaces; f) investigations to rapidly predict RNA structure from sequence information; g) studies to obtain molecular mass information on non-volatile ligands to construct natural substances such as apoptolidin and nakadomarin A.MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry is the technique of choice for obtaining accurate molecular weights on very large molecules, with extremely high sensitivity. Use of a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer has therefore become a standard technique, especially in studies involving biomolecules and polymers. This research will have a significant impact in a number of areas, especially chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research, including use by undergraduate and high school teachers who participate in summer research programs.