SHARED GAS CHROMATOGRAPH AND GC/MASS SPECTROMETER

这项提议要求资金购买两种共享工具：休利特 帕卡德气相色谱仪/质谱仪/数据系统和休利特 帕卡德气相色谱仪。这些仪器将由一大群人使用 隶属于麻省理工学院的临床研究人员 技术临床研究中心(MIT CRC)。这两种乐器，在 添加气体同位素比质谱仪和氨基酸 分析器系统在单独的建议书中被要求，将形成 麻省理工学院CRC的一个主要的共享仪器设施。 对主要用户群体的研究包括三个领域，所有这些领域 高效：1)稳定的氨基酸同位素示踪探针 和底物代谢在健康、营养的条件下 不足，衰老，严重的代谢创伤和压力，2)大脑 功能和神经递质合成对饮食因素的反应 作为氨基酸、碳水化合物和食品添加剂(阿斯巴甜)，以及3)大脑 几种疾病的功能和行为，尤其是阿尔茨海默病。 稳定同位素方法学的主要应用是在第一 区域。目前氨基酸和底物的GC/MS分析需求 新陈代谢是通过与大量物质的复杂合作网络来满足的 其他机构的光谱分析设施。进一步扩大这一领域 研究计划受到限制，不是受到研究资金的限制，而是受到沉重的 对现有分析能力的竞争。在其他两个方面的研究 通过应用新的稳定同位素示踪剂，面积将大大增加 中概述的技术和质谱分析方法 提议，但不幸的是，有限的GC/MS分析资源使这 除非获得新的资源，否则是不可能的。 因此，这些工具已被要求解除一项关键的 质谱学分析能力的限制，以及 促进开发质谱学的新应用 人类大脑功能和新陈代谢的其他令人兴奋的领域。地点 MIT CRC附近的共享设施的使用将促进培训 年轻的临床研究人员在这一强大的新技术。

This proposal requests funds to purchase two shared instruments: a Hewlett Packard Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer/Data System and a Hewlett Packard Gas Chromatograph. These instruments will be used by a large group of clinical investigators affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clinical Research Center (MIT CRC). These two instruments, in addition to a gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer and an amino acid analyzer system which are being requested in a separate proposal, will form a major shared-instrument facility at the MIT CRC. The research of the major user group encompasses three areas, all of which have been highly productive: 1) Stable isotope tracer probes of amino acid and substrate metabolism under conditions of health, nutritional inadequacy, aging, and severe metabolic trauma and stress, 2) brain function and neurotransmitter synthesis in response to dietary factors such as amino acids, carbohydrate, and food additives (aspartame), and 3) brain function and behavior in several diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. The major application of stable isotope methodology has been in the first area. At present GC/MS analytic needs for amino acid and substrate metabolism are met by a complex network of collaboration with mass spectrometry facilities at other institutions. Further expansion of this research program is limited, not by research funding but by heavy competition for existing analytic capabilities. Research in the other two areas would be greatly enhanced by applying new stable isotope tracer techniques and mass spectrometry analytic methods in ways outlined in the proposal, but unfortunately, limited GC/MS analytic resources make this impossible unless new resources are acquired. Therefore, these instruments have been requested to relieve a critical limitation in mass spectrometry analytic capability, as well as to facilitate the development of new applications of mass spectrometry to other exciting areas of human brain function and metabolism. The location of the shared facility in proximity to the MIT CRC will promote training of young clinical investigators in this powerful new technology.