What’s New
ABRF Proteomics Facilities Evaluation from Jan 2007
The MS and Proteomics Core Facility participated in a national study conducted by ABRF (Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities) in Jan 2007, in which top proteomics facilities around the country and world are evaluated for their proteomics prowess. The study involved identification of unknown proteins in a complex mixture, with the specific goal to map phosphorylations found on the identified proteins. 120 mass spectrometry facilities requested participation in the study, and of these, 44 labs submitted results. Our facility ranked number one in peptide sequence coverage of the identified proteins, and we ranked fourth in identification of phosphorylation sites (with 21 phosphorylations accurately mapped).
The MS and Proteomics Core acquired a Q-ToF mass spectrometer in 2007
The MS core acquired a Q-ToF mass spectrometer in 2007 from the lab of James McCloskey (the instrument was originally installed in 2000). The instrument will be upgraded with new electronics, data system, and latest software in May 2008. The instrument will also be equipped with a new nano LC system. This instrument has electrospray ionization, MS/MS capability, and can be used for accurate-mass measurements (i.e. within 10 ppm).
In-house Mascot Database Searching Capability (Aug 2006)
We now have a 2-processor license for in-house Mascot protein database searching. This has been a great addition to the Facility, allowing us to provide improved protein search capability by way of the following features:
- search large data files being generated from the LTQ-FT instrument
- create custom databases for users with protein sequences not found in the NCBI database
- create custom searches for user-specific modifications
- denovo peptide sequence searches
- faster search speed compared to on-line Mascot for some searches
New FTMS Instrumentation (Feb 2006)
The installation of a new state-of-the-art FTMS mass spectrometer (LTQ-FT; ThermoElectron) was completed in February 2006 at the University of Utah Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility. This extraordinary instrument is one of the highest performance mass spectrometers in the world for proteomics research, and is the only instrument of its kind in the intermountain US. The instrument was purchased through combined funding from an NIH shared-instrument grant and the University of Utah.
The LTQ-FT instrument is now performing extremely well for proteomics applications (e.g. protein ID in the attomole range). While proteomics is the primary utility of the instrument, it can be applied to many other areas of research, as well.
See Services and Instrumentation (LTQ-FT) for more details.
New Location (Nov 2005)
At the end of last year, the MS and Proteomics Core Facility moved in its entirety to a new permanent location in BPRB on upper campus of the University of Utah (MS lab in room 470; offices in rooms 470B and 470C). This new home for the Facility offers first-class mass spectrometry lab space, and the location is generally more convenient for users than our previous two divided locations.
