Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Small molecule analysis is an integral component of assessing biological mechanisms and can be either targeted or non-targeted. For targeted analysis, absolute or relative quantitation of specific molecules is achieved by optimizing chromatographic and detection conditions to the target molecules. In contrast, non-targeted analyses balance suboptimal chromatographic separation with high resolution mass analysis leading to informative mass-based deconvolution. Time of flight (ToF) mass spectrometers offer high resolution mass accuracy (approx. 1 ppm) allowing deconvolution of complex sample mixtures that are poorly resolved by chromatography. They are suitable for routine GC-MS analysis of a wide range of molecule classes, since they can generate high resolution accurate mass and EI mass spectra that can be compared with published data. GC-TOF-MS represents the industry standard for non-targeted (metabolomic) analysis of primary metabolites. In all the research programs highlighted in this proposal, the analysis of small molecules through either targeted or non-targeted approaches forms an integral part of the solution to larger biological questions. For example, the GC-ToF-MS system will be used to (1) discover biomarkers of altered primary metabolism in neurodegeneration using a mouse retina model, (2) identify potential biopesticides from tomato for the control of spider mite infestation, (3) track the flow of carbon through different trophic levels in a soil model of biodiversity, understand plant defenses against heavy metal soil contaminants, (4) understand carbohydrate dynamics in trees grown under future climate conditions and (5) determine the carbon flux in wound-induced potato tubers. These basic and applied projects reflect a broad range of topics, all with the common feature of requiring small molecule analysis to help establish underlying mechanisms, and thereby deeper understanding of the systems.