Acquisition of a CE-MS-TOF system for quantification of steroids, miRNAs and metabolites

这项供资申请用于购买与飞行时间质谱仪(CE-MS-TOF)相连的毛细管电泳仪，用于分析和定量类固醇、miRNAs和代谢物。该仪器处于技术的前沿，对于NSERC资助的研究人员étienne Hébert Chatelain、Simon Lamarre、Luc J.Martin和Pier Jr的不同研究项目的实现至关重要。莫林。拉马尔博士的研究项目侧重于不同压力对体外动物蛋白质代谢和生长的影响。他的研究旨在描述应激激素皮质醇对鱼类蛋白质代谢的影响。他还与Morin博士进行了一项重要的合作，以评估压力和禁食对鲑科miRNAs表达的影响。Morin博士的研究兴趣之一旨在更好地了解小型冬眠哺乳动物的代谢过程是如何调节的，并识别参与冬眠期间新陈代谢精细控制的非编码RNA(miRNAs，lncRNAs)。Hébert Chatelain博士正在研究不同的主题，旨在更好地了解线粒体磷酸蛋白质组和相关激酶在正常和病理生理条件下(如代谢应激、乳腺癌和阿尔茨海默病)维持体内平衡的重要性。线粒体也是调节类固醇激素合成的关键步骤的宿主，因此对新陈代谢的不同方面产生影响。马丁博士的实验室正在研究与睾丸细胞间连接的调节以及脂肪衍生激素对睾酮产生的影响有关的研究主题。因此，所有申请者在代谢分析以及类固醇激素和非编码RNA的识别和定量方面都有特殊的需求。申请者的研究项目解决了与更好地理解压力、癌症发展和肥胖背后的代谢适应密切相关的重要问题。CE-MS-TOF的获得将使他们能够满足从广泛的生物样品中鉴定和定量生物活性分子的需要。该系统界面以其极大的稳定性、出色的重现性以及令人印象深刻的灵敏度(能够从纳升样品中表征详细的代谢图谱)而闻名。 这种设备在蒙克顿大学和加拿大东部将是独一无二的。该系统是一个专门用于代谢物、miRNAs和激素分析的安捷伦平台。在申请者的研究活动中使用所要求的CE-MS-TOF将大大提高质量和生产率，从而增加资金并与几个研究小组合作，这些研究小组的兴趣范围包括癌症研究、内分泌学、发育生物学、生殖、毒理学、生态生理学和水产养殖。

This funding request is for the acquisition of a capillary electrophoresis system coupled to a Time-of-flight mass spectrometer (CE-MS-TOF) for the analysis and quantification of steroids, miRNAs and metabolites. This instrument is at the cutting edge of technology and is essential for the achievement of different research projects by NSERC funded researchers étienne Hébert Chatelain, Simon Lamarre, Luc J. Martin and Pier Jr. Morin. Dr Lamarre’s research program focuses on the effects of various stress on protein metabolism and growth in ectothermic animals. His research aims to characterize the effects of the stress hormone cortisol on protein metabolism in fish. He also has an important collaboration with Dr Morin to evaluate the effects of stress and fasting on the expression of miRNAs in Salmonidae. One of Dr Morin’s research interests aims to better understand how metabolic processes are regulated in small hibernating mammals and to identify non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs) involved in the fine control of metabolism during hibernation. Dr Hébert Chatelain is working on different themes aiming to better understand the importance of mitochondrial phosphoproteome and associated kinases in the maintenance of homeostasis under normal and pathophysiological conditions such as metabolic stress, breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Mitochondria are also hosts of critical steps regulating steroids hormones synthesis, thus having influences on different aspects of metabolism. Dr Martin’s laboratory is working on research themes related to the regulation of testicular cell-to-cell junctions and the influence of adipose derived hormones on testosterone production. Thus, all the applicants have specific needs regarding metabolics assays, as well as steroids hormones and non-coding RNAs identification and quantification. The applicants’ research programs tackle important questions highly relevant to better understanding the metabolic adaptations underlying stress, cancer development and obesity. The acquisition of the CE-MS-TOF will enable them to meet their needs in identification and quantification of bioactive molecules from a wide range of biological samples. This system interface is known for its great stability, excellent reproducibility, as well as impressive sensitivity (being able to characterize a detailed metabolic profile from nanoliter samples). This equipment will be unique at Université de Moncton and in the eastern Canada. This system is an exclusive Agilent platform for metabolites, miRNAs and hormonal analyses. Use of the requested CE-MS-TOF in research activities of the applicants will greatly improve quality and productivity, leading to increased funding and collaborations with several research groups whose interests range from cancer research, endocrinology, developmental biology, reproduction, toxicology, ecophysiology and aquaculture.