Mass Spectrometry
NRC-PBI's Spectroscopy Group solves analytical problems for government, academic and private sector researchers using mass spectrometry (MS). This powerful analytical technique can be used to identify and quantify a wide range of compounds in biological, environmental and other samples. PBI has complementary MS systems that can analyze compounds ranging from small molecules, including plant metabolites, to proteins and other biopolymers. Complex mixtures are resolved using gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC) or gel electrophoresis prior to MS. Quantitative analysis can be performed by GC-MS or by LC-MS/MS, for which tandem mass spectrometry provides high sensitivity, specificity and structural confirmation. Exact mass analysis and database searches can also be used to identify the compounds detected by MS. Specialized instrumentation allows for protein identification and peptide sequencing at low to sub-picomole levels. New methods and applications are continually being developed to meet the needs of PBI researchers and external users.
Applications
- molecular weight analysis of proteins and oligonucleotides
- protein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting or MS/MS analysis
- partial sequencing of peptides and proteins
- mapping of post-translational protein modifications
- identification and characterization of natural products
- quantitative analysis using isotopic labeling techniques
- high-resolution MS for exact mass analysis
Instrumentation
- Waters-Micromass Q-Tof Ultima Global hybrid tandem mass spectrometer with capillary LC system for protein identification, peptide sequencing and exact mass analysis using ESI or MALDI MS or MS/MS.
- Applied Biosystems Voyager-DE STR mass spectrometer for protein identification and biopolymer, exact mass or structural analysis using linear, reflectron or PSD MALDI-TOF MS.
- Micromass Quattro LC quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with HP1100 HPLC system for mass analysis of biopolymers and structural analysis of polar compounds using APcI or ESI MS or MS/MS.
- Micromass Quattro Ultima quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with Waters 2695 HPLC system for sensitive and accurate quantification of polar compounds using APcI or ESI MS/MS.
- VG Trio 2000 quadrupole mass spectrometer with Fisons 8000 GC system for identification and quantification of volatile compounds using EI or CI MS.
- VG 70-250 SEQ hybrid mass spectrometer for high-resolution mass analysis of volatile or polar compounds by El, Cl or FAB MS.
These facilities are available to third-party clients on a fee-for-service basis, for collaborative research projects and to companies incubating at PBI.
Contact:
Dr. Andrew Ross at Andrew.Ross@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Phone: (306) 975-6173.
Doug Olson at Doug.Olson@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Phone: (306) 975-4193.
Dr. Suzanne Abrams at Sue.Abrams@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Phone: (306) 975-5333.
