High-resolution mass spectrometer

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 524775618

Omics disciplines, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics have revolutionized the study of biological systems. The corresponding global analyses of genes, RNA, proteins and metabolites allow the comprehensive understanding of biological systems and assist in unraveling pathological mechanisms. Within the omics family, genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics are well established, while metabolomics represents a relatively young, however rapidly growing technology. In metabolomics, small molecules reflecting the phenotype of a biological system as well as the interaction of an organism with its environment are analyzed. This may be accomplished via either a targeted approach, during which the analysis is directed and optimized for a commonly small number of specific compounds, or an untargeted approach that aims at establishing a holistic profile of as many metabolites present as possible. With recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS) technologies, MS has become one if not the method of choice for metabolic pathway elucidation. Especially the invention of high-resolution mass spectrometers (HRMS) allowing the detection of large numbers of low molecular weight molecules (< 1500 Da) pushed the relatively young field of metabolomics to a new level. The great potential of this technology lies in the possibility to directly assign a molecular formula to the detected mass (m/z). This proposal encompasses the acquisition of a high-resolution mass spectrometer coupled to both a HPLC system for metabolomics and flux analyses of liquid samples and a Soft Ionization by Chemical Reaction in Transfer (SICRIT) source allowing metabolomic measurements of individual cells in a biomedical context. Requirements for the mass spectrometer are a high mass resolution and accuracy permitting the accurate determination of m/z ratios and metabolite annotations of unknown compounds. For the analysis of liquid metabolite extracts, the mass spectrometer shall be connected to an HPLC via an electrospray ionization source. HPLC requirements are a thermostated autosampler, a quaternary pump system, a thermostated column compartment including a selection valve for automated column switching, as well as a UV detector. For single cell analyses, a SICRIT source will be connected to the HRMS.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochauflösendes Massenspektrometer (HPLC-MS)
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Regina Verena Taudte