MRI: Acquisition of a High Resolution LC-MS/MS System for Research and Education

伊利诺伊州立大学的Christopher Mulligan教授和他的同事Michael Byrns、T. Mitchell、Brian Brennan和Rachel Bowden将获得一台高分辨率的液相色谱串联质谱仪（LC-MS/MS）。该提案旨在加强各级的研究和教育，特别是在以下领域：(a)卵生脊椎动物通过硫转移酶-硫酸酯酶途径对内分泌环境的胚胎调节；(b)检测流经人工湿地的经处理污水中的类固醇激素；(c)受有机合成启发的天然产物；(d)肽和肽计量疗法；(e)磷酸胆碱胞基转移酶的研究；(f)调节植物细胞骨架组织的分子机制；(g)微管相关蛋白在植物细胞扩增中的作用；(h)金基金属药物的仿生研究。质谱（MS）是用于鉴定和表征嵌入在复杂基质中的少量化学物质的关键分析方法之一。在一个典型的实验中，这些成分流入质谱仪，在那里它们被电离成母离子和母离子的碎片离子，并测量它们的质量。这种高度灵敏的技术可以检测和确定复杂混合物中的分子结构。具有串联能力的仪器通过在光谱仪中产生的离子进一步破碎提供额外的结构识别能力。一些项目人员对化学教育研究有第二兴趣，通过现场LC-MS/MS访问，将开发基于发现的实验室课程，包括蛋白质组学和天然产物启发的有机合成的概念。这次收购为本科生提供了广泛的实践经验，将更好地为这些学生在科学领域的职业生涯和进一步的研究生学习做好准备。ISU化学系还定期参与和指导国家资助的本科教育计划。最近/当前的努力包括国家认可的美国化学学会项目SEED（经济弱势高中生暑期体验）计划，一个由美国国家科学基金会资助的本科生研究中心，该中心为芝加哥城市学院的学生提供与国际州立大学化学导师的暑期研究经验，以及教师参与美国国家科学基金会赞助的刘易斯·斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟（LSAMP）计划的国际州立大学章节。

With this award from the Chemistry Major Research Instrumentation Program, Professor Christopher Mulligan from Illinois State University (ISU) and colleagues Michael Byrns, T. Mitchell, Brian Brennan and Rachel Bowden will acquire a high resolution liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The proposal is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as (a) embryonic regulation of the endocrine environment via the sulfotransferase-sulfatase pathway in an oviparous vertebrate; (b) detection of steroid hormones in treated sewage flowing through a constructed wetland; (c) natural products inspired organic synthesis; (d) peptidic and peptidomemetric therapeutics; (e) studies of the enzyme phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase; (f) molecular mechanisms regulating cytoskeleton organization in plant cells; (g) roles of microtubule-associated proteins in plant cell expansion; and (h) biomimetic studies of gold-based metallopharmaceuticals.Mass Spectrometry (MS) is one of the key analytical methods used to identify and characterize small quantities of chemical species embedded in complex matrices. In a typical experiment, the components flow into a mass spectrometer where they are ionized into the parent ion and its fragment ions and their masses are measured. This highly sensitive technique allows detection and determination of the structure of molecules in a complex mixture. An instrument with tandem capability provides additional structural identification power through further fragmentation of ions produced in the spectrometer. Several project personnel have secondary interests in chemical education research and, through on-site LC-MS/MS access, will develop discovery-based laboratory curricula incorporating concepts in proteomics and natural product-inspired organic synthesis. Extensive, hands-on experiences provided to undergraduates from this acquisition will better prepare these students for careers in science and further graduate studies. The ISU Department of Chemistry also regularly participates and directs nationally-funded undergraduate education initiatives. Examples of recent/current efforts include the nationally-recognized American Chemical Society Project SEED (Summer Experience for Economically Disadvantaged high school students) program, an NSF-funded Undergraduate Research Center, which provided summer research experiences for City Colleges of Chicago students with ISU Chemistry mentors, and faculty participation in the ISU chapter of the NSF-sponsored Lewis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program.