High-resolution mass spectrometer with Liquid Chromatography (LC) and Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)

• Subject Area: Plant Sciences
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 515835726

Mass spectrometry with separation of compounds by e.g. liquid chromatography (LC-MS) has emerged as a key method for large scale metabolomic measurements. In contrast to direct infusion mass spectrometry, LC-MS offers several advantages because compounds from complex sample matrices are separated into different peaks, which reduces ion suppression and results in improved sensitivity. This proposal aims at the procurement of a new tandem mass spectrometer for LC-MS and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) measurements of small molecules, both employing targeted and non-targeted strategies. The new instrument will be used for the identification and quantification of signaling molecules (e.g., phosphoinositides and inositol-phosphates), secondary plant metabolites (e.g., flavonoids) and other molecules, with a focus on plants and bacteria. We will use the LC-MS to establish a pipeline for the identification of metabolites that differentially accumulate between two biological systems (non-targeted metabolomics), e.g. by comparing wild types and mutants, or organisms exposed to control or stress conditions. The instrument will be switched to CE-MS mode for the measurement of inositol-phosphates and other polar, anionic metabolites (NADPH, ATP, etc.). The CE-MS system is currently not available on campus at the University of Bonn. The mass spectrometer will be located and integrated into the existing Lipidomics/Metabolomics Platform at the Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO) of the University of Bonn. This platform already operates two LC-MS instruments, which are used at high capacity for direct infusion/shotgun measurements of glycerolipids, and LC-MS analysis of low abundant metabolites. The new mass spectrometer will be used for measurements with high mass accuracy and sensitivity, which is required for the identification and quantification of large numbers of metabolites in complex extracts. The instrument will be essential for several (joint) grant applications that have been funded or are under evaluation. The mass spectrometer will serve groups on campus, but it will also be open to collaborations with national and international research groups.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochauflösendes Massenspektrometer mit Flüssigkeitschromatographie (LC) und Kapillarelektrophorese (CE)
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Leader: Professor Dr. Peter Dörmann