MALDI TOF MASS SPECTROMETER

MALDI-TOF质谱（MS）正迅速成为蛋白质组学和基因组学研究以及许多支持应用的首选技术。然而，仪器是超出了大多数个人实验室的能力范围。在这个机构，至少有五个主要的NIH资助的实验室（下图）将从MALDI-TOF MS技术的注入中受益匪浅。该机构潜在的MALDI-TOF应用程序跨越了至少13个目前正在进行的NIH赠款的特定目标，可能涵盖了MALDI-TOF技术应用的每个主要当代领域。此外，我们的潜在应用将涵盖四大类生物大分子中的三类（即核酸，蛋白质和碳水化合物）。关于蛋白质组学应用，MALDI-TOF仪器应使主要用户群（下文）内的用户能够：（a）“质量控制”重组蛋白质，以确认其身份和是否存在修饰，（B）鉴定已知蛋白质内的分离肽片段，（c）表征蛋白质修饰，以及（d）鉴定未知的伴侣。该研究所内BIAcore仪器的存在有助于BIA/MS应用的实验。对于核酸，用户希望（a）检查合成寡核苷酸的适当修饰和脱保护，（B）表征短合成RNA，（c）对环境诱导的突变进行高通量基因分型。关于碳水化合物，我们希望MALDI-TOF技术在糖蛋白衍生寡糖链的表征中发挥独特的作用。除此之外，我们还设想了在有机合成产品表征中的小用途应用。目前，没有MALDI-TOF仪器可用于以接近令人满意的方式满足这些需求中的任何一个。为了赶上MALDI-TOF技术进步的浪潮，我们申请资助一种多功能、功能强大的中档MALDI-TOF仪器，该仪器具有足够的灵敏度、质量分辨率和质量精度，以满足我们的各种需求。我们认为我们有一个强有力的计划，在这里描述的NIH资助的教师的同事群体之间公平，共享使用。

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) is rapidly becoming a technique of choice for proteomic and genomic studies as well as a host of supporting applications. However, the instrumentation is beyond the reach of most individual labs. At this institution, at least five, major NIH- funded labs (below) would benefit enormously from the infusion of MALDI-TOF MS technology. Potential MALDI-TOF applications at this institution span the specific aims of at least thirteen currently active NIH grants, probably covering each of the major, contemporary areas of application of MALDI-TOF technology. Moreover, our potential applications would cover three of the four major groups of biological macromolecule (viz. nucleic acid, protein, and carbohydrate). With regard to proteomics applications, MALDI-TOF instrumentation should enable users within the major user group (below) to (a) `quality control' recombinant proteins for identity confirmation and the presence/absence of modification, (b) identify isolated peptide fragments within known proteins, (c) characterize protein modifications, and (d) identify unknown partners. The presence of a BIAcore instrument within this institute facilitates experimentation with BIA/MS applications. With regard to nucleic acids the users would wish to (a) check synthetic oligonucleotides for appropriate modification and deprotection, (b) characterize short synthetic RNAs (c) Perform high-throughput genotyping of environmentally-induced mutations. With regard to carbohydrates, we would expect MALDI-TOF technology to play a unique role in the characterization of glycoprotein-derived oligosaccharide chains. In addition to the above, we envisage minor-use applications in the characterization of organic synthesis products. Currently, there is no MALDI-TOF instrument available to meet any of these needs an a manner that is anywhere near satisfactory. To ride the exciting wave of technological advancement in MALDI-TOF, we request funding for a versatile, powerful, midrange MALDI-TOF instrument of sufficient sensitivity, mass resolution and mass accuracy to fulfill our diverse needs. We feel we have a strong plan for its equitable, shared use between the colleaguial group of NIH-funded faculty described herein.