Rowett Research
Services

 Analytical Facilities - Mass Spectrometry Section

  Head of Section: Mr Eric Milne

Overview

Over the past 20 years the Institute has invested in a range of mass spectrometry facilities. The majority are used to support a wide array of metabolic studies in cells, animals and humans. Often the dynamics (or fluxes) of nutrients and metabolites need to be quantified. This requires tracer kinetic methodologies, whereby the flow of a metabolite through various intermediary pathways and into specific products is measured using either radio- or stable-isotopes. In the past, such studies invariably used radio-isotopes due, in part, to the ubiquitous availability of relatively cheap liquid scintillation counters. Nowadays, and especially when studies on humans are involved, safe stable-isotope forms of metabolites are preferred. Measurement of these requires access to mass spectrometers, with several different types necessary to allow the full array of analyses to be accomplished. In more recent years the Institute has also used mass spectrometry to support research in programmes relating to metalloproteins, collagen crosslinks and peptide mass mapping. Using a combination of these instruments, we are able to identify proteins by peptide mass fingerprinting and de novo sequencing following 2D PAGE electrophoresis. Our most recent purchases have been the Applied Biosystems 4000 Q Trap and 3200 LC/MS/MS instruments. This will support the increasing interest in quantitative metabolite measurements and Metobolomics.

Types of Mass Spectrometry Available :