MRI: Acquisition of Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation for Chemistry and Biology Research

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。通过重大研究仪器（MRI）计划的这一奖项，格林内尔学院化学系将获得离子阱气相色谱质谱仪（GC-MS）和飞行时间（TOF）质谱仪，用于跨生物学，化学和神经科学的多部门研究项目。 该仪器将支持一系列研究活动，包括1）通过氢/氘交换质谱法研究探针溶液结构、配体结合和蛋白质动力学; 2）表征有机杂环化合物复合物，以研究其化学电离途径; 3）研究气相阳离子小分子反应性，从而考察金属-金属协同性; 4）研究区分与植物热应激反应有关的Rubisco活化酶蛋白; 5）测量蜥蜴神经肌肉接头处的内源性大麻素（eCB）或其代谢物; 6）鉴定包含变构调节剂结合位点的烟碱受体残基; 8）地下和地表沃茨中除草剂和药物污染物及其降解产物的研究质谱法（MS）用于鉴定样品的化学成分，并通过测量样品中分子成分的质量来确定其纯度。 色谱法是一种先于质谱分析的分离技术。 它将混合物分离成几种化学成分，然后由质谱仪进行分析。 这些是广泛使用的分析技术，用于识别和量化样品的化学成分。 对本科生进行使用现代仪器的技术培训是很重要的。 该仪器将用于研究学生，在实验室课堂教学和涉及中学生的推广计划。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, the Chemistry Department at Grinnell College will acquire an ion trap gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer for use in multi-departmental research projects spanning biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. The instrumentation will support a range of research activities, including 1) investigations to probe solution structure, ligand binding and protein dynamics by hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry; 2) characterization of organoheterobimetallic complexes to investigate their chemical ionization pathways; 3) studies of gas phase cation small molecule reactivity thereby examining metal-metal cooperativity; 4) investigations to differentiate Rubisco activase proteins that have been implicated in heat-stress response in plants; 5) measurements of endocannabinoids (eCBs) or their metabolites at the lizard neuromuscular junction; 6) identification of residues of nicotinic receptors that comprise the binding site for an allosteric modulator; and 8) studies of herbicides and pharmaceutical contaminants and their degradation products in ground and surface waters.Mass spectrometry (MS) is used to identify the chemical composition of a sample and determine its purity by measuring the mass of the molecular constituents in the sample after they are ionized and detected by the mass spectrometer. Chromatography is an isolation technique that precedes the mass spectrometry analysis. It separates a mixture into its several constituent chemicals which are then analyzed by the mass spectrometer. These are widely used analytical techniques to identify and quantify the chemical composition of a sample. It is important for undergraduate students to be trained in the technique using modern instrumentation. The instrumentation will be used by research students, in laboratory class instruction and in an outreach program involving middle school students.