Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (LC-QTOF-HRMS) High-Resolution-Mass Spectrometer-System

• Subject Area: Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 536269522

Quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer is a sensitive, specific and suitable method for detecting and determining the concentration of often unknown low-molecular analytes, e.g. mycotoxins or their derivatives. The hybridization of quadrupole and TOF technology has resulted in high-resolution, mass-accurate analysis of all ions that are now used to identify and quantify complex mixtures (e.g., extracts from complex culture media) or unknown compounds (e.g., satratoxin F) is used. The device applied for this is to be used to detect a large group of metabolites (e.g. atranone and satratoxins) in various matrices (e.g. culture media, interior samples or blood samples) for which there are often no reference substances (e.g .13C labeled standards or pure substances). By means of these analyses, such factors are identified that inhibit or promote mycotoxin production both at the genetic level and through external influences such as other microorganisms. There are different methods to extract the different target analytes from the matrix to be examined. The resulting liquid sample extract is a mixture of various matrix components and the target analytes. The target analytes are first separated using an HPLC system and then ionized. Once the ions are generated, they are directed through a capillary inlet system and a dual ion funnel into the quadrupole isolation (MS) and controlled fragmentation (MS/MS) system. The orthogonal acceleration follows the quadrupolar units and splits the permanent ion stream into packets that are shot into the flight tube. At the upper end they are reflected to improve the resolving power and to focus on the multi-channel plate of the detector. Thanks to the untargeted workflow, it is also possible to identify substances afterwards, which means that every measurement can potentially be used for future questions. The Department of Bacteriology and Mycology has one of the few mycological departments within the field of veterinary medicine in Germany that deals with the production of mycotoxins. For example, new genotypes of Stachybotrys chartarum have been described, a connection between sporulation and mycotoxin production has been described, and a newly defined culture medium for reliable and developed sensitive analytics. Detection and quantification of the secondary metabolites are essential for this work. With our own QTOF system, delays, complex logistics and previous limitations are avoided. In order to be able to further develop the previous, very successful, scientific work, the procurement of a state-of-the-art mass spectrometer is therefore urgently required.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Quadrupol Time-of-Flight (LC-QTOF-HRMS) hochauflösendes Massenspektrometersystem
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Leaders: Professor Reinhard K. Straubinger, Ph.D.; Dr. Sebastian Ulrich, until 11/2024