Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry

本项目旨在研究脂质的结构多样性。脂质是所有生物分子中结构最多样化的分子之一，因此破译它们的许多功能需要能够在数千种类似物的环境中独特地识别和定量单个分子的生物分析技术。质谱法是当代脂质分析的杰出技术，但受到某些脂质偏好电离的挑战，其极性提供灵敏的检测，但不允许详细的结构解析。该项目将开发能够按需切换电离脂质极性的先进仪器，以便在最佳电荷状态下进行分子结构的检测和询问。

This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of certain lipids to ionise with a polarity that affords sensitive detection but does not permit detailed structure elucidation. This project will develop advanced instrumentation capable of on-demand polarity switching of ionised lipids such that the detection and interrogation of molecular structure can take place in the optimal charge state.