High throughput LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry system

• Subject Area: Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 534046536

The proteomics department of the Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA) at the Gene Center of the LMU is involved in a large number of third-party funded research projects in translational medicine. One focus is the proteomic characterization of organs from transgenic large animal models (pigs) for human diseases (including diabetes mellitus and Duchenne muscular dystrophy). In previous studies, we clearly demonstrated the relevance of these animal models for the human system and the importance of proteome profiles for the molecular characterization of disease patterns and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic concepts. Further important questions have arisen in recent years. For example, further innovative large animal models for human diseases (e.g. for diabetes, clonal haematopoiesis, Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and Laron syndrome) have been established. In addition, proteome profiles of transgenic pig organs for xenotransplantation have been generated. Here, too, we were able to show that proteome profiles are important to investigate the extent to which the specifically introduced genetic modifications, which are intended to prevent rejection reactions, affect the proteomes of these organs. This will also be important for the clinical translation of xenotransplantation. Due to capacity reasons, analyses must currently be carried out on a mass spectrometer that is approximately 10 years old and was purchased second-hand in 2014 and does no longer meet current requirements in terms of sensitivity and scan rates. To maintain international competitiveness, the aquisition of a state-of-the-art mass spectrometer is urgently required. The primary use of the requested mass spectrometer remains the systematic proteomic phenotyping of various tissues from large animal models (pigs) for human diseases, of which extensive tissue banks have already been established. The focus lies on diabetes, muscle diseases such as Duchenne and Becker dystrophy, and cardiovascular diseases. These investigations are also of great relevance in the context of the ICON-LMU research building, which has now been largely completed.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochdurchsatz-LC-MS/MS Massenspektrometrie-System
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Leader: Dr. Thomas Fröhlich