Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

<p><span class=""Apple-tab-span"" style=""white-space: pre;""> </span><strong>GILLES LAJOIE &nbsp; Pin 17458</strong><br /> <strong>Nano-UPLC for a Q-Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer</strong> </p> <p><strong>Summary of Proposal&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>This NSERC RTI application is for a nano-ultra performance liquid chromatography system (nano-UPLC) urgently needed to operate the Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer system used in our current and future proteomics experiments. The new generation of nano-UPLC (EASY-nLC 1200) offers several new features including operating at much higher pressure (17000 psi), hence greatly improving separation of complex mixtures prior to entry in the mass spectrometer and this results in a greater number of peptides and proteins identified. This nano-UPLC will replace the now obsolete nano-UPLC.</p> <br /> <p> The field of proteomics has grown exponentially over the last five years and has had an immense impact in the biological and biomedical sciences. The ultimate goal of proteomics is to fully characterize all proteins in cells. This includes their identification, modifications, quantitation as well as their localization and interacting partners. From an analytical perspective proteomics is a very challenging problem due to the complexity of the proteome, especially in higher organisms. The most important analytical tool is, by far, mass spectrometry coupled with in-line ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Proteomics technologies have already led to important advances and revolutionized our understanding of biological systems. Very recently two large scale proteomics studies reported a first draft of the human proteome, an accomplishment that seemed impossible only two years ago.</p> <br /> <p> Since 2000, we have developed at Western a vibrant research program in biological mass spectrometry and proteomics and established a state-of-the-art facility (from grants from NSERC, ORF, CFI LEF and CFI LOF/IOF). &nbsp; These facilities have led to innovative and multidisciplanary research. &nbsp;This resulted in several publications from our lab and led to many fruitful collaborations. &nbsp; Several grants recently awarded are highly dependent on functioning proteomic instrumentation. Access to a state-of the-art nano-UPLC Q-Exactive Orbitap system is also important for the training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Researchers with practical knowledge in biological mass spectrometry and proteomics are in high demand in academia and industry.</p>