UPLC-mediated metabolite analyses: soil to water, and microbes to mammals

小分子随处可见，它们可以是自然产生的，也可以是人工合成的。微生物利用小分子作为彼此之间以及与其他有机体之间进行交流和竞争的一种方式。小分子也可以作为食物来源，更复杂的营养物质最终在消化过程中被分解成最小的成分。最后，小分子可以通过工业过程释放到环境中，并可以对接触它们的有机体产生深远的影响。超高效液相色谱技术使研究人员能够识别、测量和量化各种生物和环境样品中的小分子。*麦克马斯特大学生物系的Elliot、Finan和Kidd实验室正在共同努力改善我们土壤和水的健康。Elliot博士和Finan博士的研究项目专注于土壤微生物，这些微生物有可能通过减少我们对有害化肥的依赖(通过细菌产生植物生长所需的氮)，以及通过生物控制策略(产生可以防止病原体生长的分子)来减少植物疾病，从而改变农业实践。基德博士的研究重点是人类活动对水生生态系统的影响，特别是我们的河流、湖泊和海洋的污染。我们的每个研究项目都需要分析小分子(环境污染物、营养素、抗菌和抗真菌化合物)的能力，而由于缺乏易于访问和可用的UPLC分析系统，我们进行这些分析的能力受到了很大的限制。值得注意的是，没有UPLC系统(甚至更基本的高效液相系统)可供整个生命科学大楼/生物系使用，我们唯一可用的系统订户很多，而且位于另一栋大楼，通道有限。与获得这种设备相关的持续斗争正在对我们的生产力产生不利影响，并显著减缓我们的研究进度。所要求的UPLC系统将使我们能够识别和量化环境污染物的复杂混合物，监测固氮菌的营养吸收和新陈代谢，并提纯和鉴定细菌制造的天然产品，以控制其他微生物的生长。这些研究对我们环境的健康以及我们的食品生产和来源的可持续性产生了深远的影响，这些问题对加拿大人的健康和福祉至关重要。**

Small molecules can be found everywhere, and they can be naturally produced, or can be synthetically generated. Microorganisms use small molecules as a way of communicating and competing with each other and with other organisms. Small molecules can also serve as food sources, with more complex nutrients ultimately being broken down into their smallest constituents during digestion. Finally, small molecules can be released into the environment through industrial processes, and can have profound effects on the organisms exposed to them. UPLC or ultra performance liquid chromatography technologies allow investigators to identify, measure and quantify small molecules in diverse biological and environmental samples. ******The Elliot, Finan and Kidd labs in the Department of Biology at McMaster University are collectively working to improve the health of our soils and waters. Drs. Elliot and Finan's research programs focus on soil microbes with the potential to transform agricultural practices by reducing our reliance on harmful fertilizers (through the bacterial production of nitrogen needed for plant growth), and by reducing plant disease through biocontrol strategies (the production of molecules that can prevent the growth of pathogens). Dr. Kidd's research focuses on the effect of human activities on aquatic ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on the pollution of our rivers, lakes and oceans. Each of our research programs require the ability to analyze small molecules (environmental contaminants, nutrients, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds), and we are majorly constrained in our ability to conduct these analyses, due to the lack of readily accessible and available UPLC analytical systems. Notably, there are no UPLC systems (or even more basic HPLC systems) available for use in the whole of the Life Sciences Building/Biology Department, and the only systems available to us are heavily subscribed and are located in another building with limited access. The constant struggle associated with getting access to this equipment is adversely affecting our productivity, and is significantly slowing our research progress. The requested UPLC system will allow us to identify and quantify complex mixtures of environmental contaminants, monitor nutrient uptake and metabolism by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and purify and identify natural products made by bacteria to control the growth of other microbes. These studies have profound implications for the health of our environment, and the sustainability of our food production and sources, issues that are of the utmost importance to the health and well-being of Canadians. **