Features: April 15, 2002

Mass Spectrometry Facility in Cogswell Paves the Way for Biotechnology Research

Two instruments critical for biotechnology research have been added to a new facility in Cogswell Lab directed by Dimitri Zagorevski, an internationally known mass spectrometrist.

	Dimitri Zagorevski, lab director

The addition of a liquid chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS) and a Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer was made possible through two grants totaling nearly $500,000 from the National Science Foundation written by Julie Stenken, assistant professor of chemistry, and Christin Choma, associate professor of chemistry.

"You simply cannot do biotechnology research without mass spectrometry," says Stenken. "We now have a facility that can cut the evaluation time for our samples from weeks to one afternoon."

Working in tandem, the instruments allow researchers to analyze unknown small molecular weight chemicals, such as drug metabolites, and large molecular weight chemicals, such as proteins and synthetic polymers. Researchers previously had to do without the analysis or send samples to other universities, a process that took two weeks.

Mass spectroscopy establishes the mass of an unidentified molecule. Using the instruments, for example, chemical engineer Jonathan Dordick can identify products from enzymatic reactions. Choma can confirm the sequences of her novel peptides and proteins. Stenken's research group uses LCMS to identify and confirm products of oxygen free radical reactions. Chemist Jim Ferris can determine the sequences of oligonucleotides. And biochemist Freddie Colón can confirm the identity of his protein mutants.