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Instrumentation

The MMSF houses a Thermo LCQdeca MS, a Thermo LTQ-XL MS, a Thermo LTQ Orbitrap XL MS, a Micromass Quattro Ultima Triple Quadrupole MS, an Agilent 6230 Accurate-Mass TOFMS, an Agilent 5977B GC-MSD, and a Bruker Autoflex Max MALDI-TOFMS. Details on each instrument are shown as followed:

Thermo LCQdeca-MS (Urey Hall 2261)

Thermo LCQdeca-MS

The Thermo LCQdeca is an advanced analytical instrument that includes a syringe pump, a divert/inject valve, an atmospheric pressure ionization source (electrospray ionization, ESI, or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source, APCI), a quadrupole ion trap mass analyzer, and the Xcalibur data system. The instrument is equipped with a HP 1100 LC station. Pure samples can be analyzed by flow injection using the inject valve fitted with a loop or direct infusion. Mixtures can be separated into its various components by a LC column and then be analyzed by a diode-array UV detector and the MS detector. The MS detector can be operated under both positive and negative ion modes with the capabilities of doing MS/MS and MSn analysis. The instrument has unit mass resolution over a mass range of 50-2000 m/z with a typical mass accuracy of 100 ppm. Typical sample types suitable for analysis on the LCQdeca-MS include synthetic organic molecules, synthetic peptides, natural products, organometallic compounds, lipids, and intact proteins.

Thermo LTQ-XL MS (Urey Hall 2245)

Thermo LCQdeca XPplus MS

The LTQ XL ion trap MS extends the legendary MSn performance of the LTQ ion trap, incorporating more techniques to generate structural information through innovations in Thermo Scientific ion trap technology. Unparalleled sensitivity and unmatched MSn spectral quality; Pulsed Q dissociation (PQD) for generating more fragments and extending the low mass range; High-resolution isolation (HRI) enables isolation of isobaric mass peaks for cleaner MSn spectra; Ultra-fast polarity switching for high sensitivity analysis of unknowns; Automated data-dependent neutral loss for PTM and biotransformation analyses; Excellent charge state determinations with Ultra ZoomScan™. The instrument is coupled with a Vanquish UPLC. Typical sample types suitable for analysis on the LTQXL-MS include synthetic organic molecules, synthetic peptides, natural products, organometallics, lipids, and intact proteins.

Thermo LTQ Orbitrap XL MS (Urey Hall 2257)

Thermo LTQ Orbitrap XLThe Thermo Orbitrap XL is a hybrid instrument that combines an LTQ ion trap mass spectrometer with the high resolution capability of the Orbitrap Fourier Transform mass analyzer in the back compartment. In combination, the two instruments work together to isolate precursor ions for high resolution detection, while concurrently measuring collision-dissociation product ion spectra in the ion trap front end. This allows complex mixtures to be analyzed  either by ESI, or by nano-electrospray ionization after LC separation with narrow-diameter fused-silica capillary chromatography. A diversity of biomolecules including proteins, peptides, nucleotides, lipids, and polysaccharides are studied using the Orbitrap. The interaction of synthetic organic probes with biologically-derived samples is also a frequent application.

Micromass Quattro Ultima Triple Quadrupole MS (Urey Hall 2237)

Micromass Quattro Ultima Triple Quadrupole MS

The Micromass Quattro Ultima is a high performance benchtop triple quadrupole mass spectrometer designed for routine LC-MS and LC-MS/MS operations. It may be configured with any of the following three options: an HPLC system with an autosampler; an infusion pump; or a a syringe pump. Ionization takes place in the source at atmospheric pressure. These ions are sampled through a series of orifices into the first quadrupole where they are filtered according to their mass to charge ratio (m/z). The mass separated ions then pass into the hexapole collision cell where they either undergo collision induced decomposition (CID) or pass unhindered to the second quadrupole. The fragment ions are then mass analyzed by the second quadrupole. Finally the transmitted ions are detected by a conversion dynode, phosphor and photomultiplier detection system. The output signal is amplified, digitised and presented to the data system. The Quattro Ultima is especially useful in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) study, and the analysis of synthetic organic molecules, synthetic peptides, natural products, lipids, and intact proteins. Contact Dr. Su if you want training on the Micromass Triple Quadrupole MS.

Agilent 6230 Accurate-Mass TOFMS (Urey Hall 2237)

Agilent 6230 Accurate-Mass TOFMS

The Agilent 6230 Accurate-Mass TOFMS system features Agilent Jet Stream Thermal Focusing technology for significantly improved sensitivity, as well as enhanced MassHunter Workstation software for superior data mining and analysis capabilities. These new features, coupled with Agilent’s True High-Definition TOF technology, enable the 6230 Accurate-Mass TOF to deliver exceptional sensitivity, excellent mass accuracy, fast data acquisition, and streamlined qualitative and quantitative analysis. An Agilent 1260 Infinity Binary LC is coupled with this 6230 Accurate-Mass TOFMS system for on-line HPLC-HR-ESI/APCI-MS analysis. Typical sample types suitable for analysis on the Agilent 6230 LC-TOFMS include synthetic organic molecules, synthetic peptides, natural products, organometallic compounds, and proteins.

Agilent 5977B GC-MSD (Urey Hall 2245)

Agilent 5977B GC-MSD

The Agilent 5977B Gas Chromatograph-Mass Selective Detector (GC-MSD) instrument builds on a tradition of leadership in GC and MS technology, with excellent best performance and productivity features. This robust instrument has electron impact sources coupled with an Agilent 7820A GC system. Equipped with an Agilent 7693 Autosampler, it can be used for rapid, high-throughput mass analyses with high detection sensitivity and mass accuracy. The Agilent 7820A GC unit makes the analysis of mixtures (e.g., to follow the progress of a reaction) possible. The instrument is particularly useful for routine analysis of non-polar small organic molecules in the mass range of 50-1000 amu. The instrument is available to trained users 7/24. Contact Dr. Su if you want training on the Agilent 5977B GC-MSD.

Bruker Autoflex Max MALDI-TOFMS (Urey Hall 2245)

Matrix-assisted laser desorption Ionization (MALDI) coupled with time of flight (TOF) mass analyzer isBruker Autoflex Max MALDI-TOFMS a powerful tool for characterization of biopolymers (proteins, protein digests and oligonucleotides), organometallic complexes, synthetic polymers, and other high molecular weight organic materials. The Bruker Autoflex Max is a floor standing MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer with proprietary SmartBeam-II™ laser technology with up to 2 kHz repetition rate, high dynamic range FlashDetector™ system in conjunction with a 10 bit 5 Gs/s digitizer and PAN™ wide mass range focusing for unrivaled resolution power and mass accuracy. Equipped with MALDI-Ion Source with integrated self-cleaning procedure; TOF-Analyzer for Linear and Reflectron mode, MS/MS and high energy CID capabilities; TOF-Analyzer for both positive and negative ion mode; Resolution performance RP > 26,000 FWHM achieved in MS mode; Superb low ppm mass accuracy (internal calibration) MS mode; Superb low ppm mass accuracy (internal calibration) MS/MS mode; Up to 2 kHz data acquisition speed in linear and reflectron mode. The instrument is available to trained users 7/24. Contact Dr. Su if you want training on the Bruker Autoflex Max MALDI-TOFMS.