Chad Nelson, Ph.D. - Shared Resource Director

Description

The Mass Spectrometry (MS) Shared Resource provides mass spectrometry services and consultation to Cancer Center members at the University of Utah. This powerful tool is utilized in a range of investigations involving molecular characterization, such as identification of proteins from 1D or 2D gels at fmol to low pmol levels from tryptic digests, peptide sequencing, and protein structure characterization of intact proteins. Protein investigations and collaborations with the MS Shared Resource include a broad range of applications, such as protein ID from gel bands or solutions, analysis of intact proteins for characterization of post-translational modifications (PTM's) and amino acid composition, mapping sequence sites of PTM's, determination of protein markers, or investigations involving new potential anti-tumor agents. Data are acquired using electrospray ionization LC/MS/MS techniques with nano-HPLC, or by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The MS Facility currently has three MS/MS mass spectrometers with ESI ionization and one high-resolution MALDI instrument.

Interpretation of MS data, planning of experiments, and research project consultation with investigators are provided as appropriate by the Shared Resource Director and/or Manager, thus providing expertise not available in some biologically-oriented laboratories. Fee-for-service billings are handled electronically on a monthly basis as part of the central core facility billing system.

The MS Shared Resource Facility has funding for a new ESI/FTMS high-performance mass spectrometer in 2005, which will provide state-of-the-art mass spectrometry for proteomics and other areas of research for cancer center investigators and other researchers on campus. The MS Facility will be relocating to a new and convenient location in 2005, providing better services for its users.

Any publication resulting from the use of this shared resource should appropriately acknowledge the Mass Spectrometry Core and the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA042014.

In addition, for purposes of the NCI review and fulfilling the mission of the Cancer Center, please use peer-reviewed cancer related grants to pay for the services of this core facility. Contact Kris Larrabee to determine which of your grants would be appropriate to use.

Faculty Advisory Board