High-resolution Mass Spectrometer for Proteomics Research

• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 556756473

The research foci of the "Systematische Proteomics & Bioanalytik" group are: (i) method development for mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and proteoform-centric proteomics (bottom-up proteomics, middle-down proteomics, top-down proteomics, terminomics, low-input proteomics); and (ii) the application of these methodologies, as well as of established proteomics approaches, in biomedical, biological and biotechnological research. The two foci are strongly linked to each other; thus, analytical developments are stimulated by the needs of the application projects, and newly developed analytical approaches are transferred back, which allows to provide state-of-the-art methods to the projects. High-resolution MS, coupled with efficient high-performance separation technologies, is a key technology for the study of peptides, proteins, and proteomes. The general requirements for the requested mass spectrometer are defined by our research program, and therefore, the instrument needs to be capable of performing experiments both at peptide and on intact protein level, as well as quantitative analyses based on highly multiplexed isobaric labeling strategies. High resolution and mass accuracies over a wide mass range and the availability of a variety of ion activation mechanisms are key features needed. The requested high-performance mass spectrometer is meant to replace a similar type of instrument recently severely damaged due to a fatal turbo-pump crash. A repair of the latter is both from an economic point of view as well as taking into account recent advancements in technology less favorable compared to the complete replacement by a new instrument, albeit of the same type and basic technology as the inoperable instrument.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochauflösendes Massenspektrometer für die Proteomforschung
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Leader: Professor Dr. Andreas Tholey