Project Details
Projekt
MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer for intact proteins and proteoforms
Subject Area
Medicine
Term
since 2026
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 578108101
The proposed project aims at the acquisition of a modern mass spectrometer with a dual time-of-flight analyzer. This instrument enables the measurement of very large proteins and their variants in their entirety, without the need for prior digestion into smaller fragments. In this way, biological processes can be examined much more precisely, as binding partners, structural modifications of proteins, and disease-relevant alterations become directly detectable. The intended use of the instrument opens up new possibilities for the investigation of protein complexes that play a decisive role in numerous diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders, metabolic dysfunction, or neurodegenerative processes. Whereas research has so far focused mainly on small molecules or protein fragments, the new technology allows the direct analysis of intact proteins and their natural variants. This contributes to a deeper understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms and provides new entry points for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. A mass spectrometer of this type has been available to the applicants for almost 20 years. Using this instrument, numerous high-impact publications in leading international journals have been achieved. It also forms a critical methodological basis for several Collaborative Research Centers and other major consortia in which the applicants are actively involved. However, the existing device has been discontinued by the manufacturer, with no spare parts or maintenance provided. As a result, the system is at permanent risk of total failure, which would seriously endanger the successful continuation of the aforementioned collaborative research projects. The new acquisition is therefore essential to secure the continuity of analyses, maintain scientific excellence, and safeguard the integration into central research consortia. In addition, the new mass spectrometer will serve as a central research infrastructure for the entire faculty. It will be used by various research groups and integrated into existing collaborative projects. In this way, it will strengthen the research environment in the long term and provide young scientists with access to state-of-the-art analytical technologies. The requested instrument is designed for long-term use and complements the existing infrastructure with a technology that has not previously been available in this form. It will thus make a decisive contribution to the sustainable development of mass spectrometry-based research and create the foundation for numerous future projects of high scientific and medical relevance.
DFG Programme
Major Research Instrumentation
Major Instrumentation
MALDI-TOF/TOF-Massenspektrometer für intakte Proteine und Proteoformen
Instrumentation Group
1700 Massenspektrometer
Applicant Institution
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
