MRI: Acquisition of a Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometer to Enhance Undergraduate Research and Teaching at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution

该奖项由主要研究仪器和化学研究仪器项目支持。维拉诺瓦大学正在购买一台配备液相色谱仪的三重四极杆飞行时间质谱仪（三重Q-TOF-MS），以支持Anthony Lagalante教授、Kevin Minbiole、Daniel Kraut、Jacob Elmer和Aimee Eggler等同事。一般来说，质谱（MS）是用于鉴定和表征复杂样品中少量化学物质的关键分析方法之一。带有液相色谱仪的仪器可以在混合物到达质谱仪之前将其分离。在四极质谱仪中，有四个相互平行的圆柱形棒，用作质量分析器（仪器的组件，负责根据样品的质量电荷比（m/z）选择样品离子）。离子在四极杆中被分离是基于它们在施加于棒的振荡电场中轨迹的稳定性。在该仪器中，这种能力与飞行时间组件（TOF）相耦合，其中离子的质荷比是通过离子被已知强度的电场加速的方式确定的。离子的速度取决于质荷比（相同电荷的较重离子速度较低）。测量离子到达已知距离的探测器所需的时间。这个时间取决于离子的速度，因此是它的质量电荷比的量度。从这个比值和已知的实验参数，可以表征离子。此次收购加强了大学和地区的研究基础设施。该仪器通过让不同的学生使用这种现代分析技术来扩大参与。它还与附近的主要本科院校和一所历史悠久的黑人学院和大学合作。颁发质谱仪的目的是为了加强各级的研究和教育。这尤其影响了涂料颜料分析方法的发展，用于艺术品保护和鉴定，以及测试系统杀虫剂吡虫啉及其代谢物对铁杉绵蚜害虫的有效性及其对本地传粉昆虫的影响。该仪器还用于了解蛋白质降解过程和确定蛋白酶体展开蛋白质能力的分子决定因素，以及阐明宿主细胞对基因治疗的反应，并通过抑制或绕过宿主细胞防御来改善转基因表达。此外，它有利于蚯蚓血红蛋白作为一种可能的血液替代品的发展，以及从天然产物中鉴定与医学相关的有机小分子。质谱仪还用于表征转录激活因子Nrf2/ARE（一种结合抗氧化反应元件并协调激活一系列解毒/防御基因的转录因子）的机制和时间过程，该转录激活因子保护细胞免受氧化应激诱导的细胞死亡。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation programs. Villanova University is acquiring a triple quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (triple Q-TOF-MS) equipped with a liquid chromatograph to support Professor Anthony Lagalante, Kevin Minbiole, Daniel Kraut, Jacob Elmer and Aimee Eggler and other colleagues. In general, mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the key analytical methods used to identify and characterize small quantities of chemical species in complex samples. An instrument with a liquid chromatograph can separate mixtures of compounds before they reach the mass spectrometer. In a quadrupole mass spectrometer, there are four cylindrical rods parallel to each other, that serve as the mass analyzer (the component of the instrument responsible for selecting sample ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z)). Ions are separated in a quadrupole based on the stability of their trajectories in oscillating electric fields that are applied to the rods. In this instrument, this capability is coupled to a time-of-flight component (TOF) in which the mass-to-charge ratio of an ion is determined by the way in which ions are accelerated by an electric field of known strength. The velocity of the ion depends on the mass-to-charge ratio (heavier ions of the same charge reach lower speeds). The time that the ions take to reach a detector at a known distance is measured. This time depends on the velocity of the ion, and therefore is a measure of its mass-to-charge ratio. From this ratio and known experimental parameters, the ion can be characterized. The acquisition strengthens the research infrastructure at the university and regional area. The instrument broadens participation by involving diverse students with this modern analytical technique. It is also used in partnerships with nearby primarily undergraduate institutions and a Historically Black College and University.The award of the mass spectrometer is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. It especially impacts the development of methods of paint pigment analysis for art conservation and authentication and for testing the effectiveness of systemic insecticide imidacloprid and its metabolites on the hemlock woolly adelgid insect pest and the impact of these compounds on native pollinators. The instrumentation is also used for understanding the process of protein degradation and identifying molecular determinants of the proteasome's ability to unfold proteins, and for elucidating host cell response to gene therapy and improving transgene expression by inhibiting or circumventing host cell defenses. In addition, it benefits the development of earthworm hemoglobin as a possible blood substitute and the identification of medicinally-relevant organic small molecules from natural products. The mass spectrometer is also used to characterize the mechanistic and temporal process of the transcriptional activation factor known as Nrf2/ARE (a transcription factor that binds to antioxidant response element and coordinately activates a battery of detoxifying/defensive genes) which protects cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.