High-resolution chromatography coupled ion mobility electrospray ionization mass spectrometer

• Subject Area: Biological Chemistry and Food Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 541883942

High-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) constitutes a core expertise of third party-funded research projects in the School of Science of Constructor University, formerly known as Jacobs University Bremen. Instruments acquired in 2006 and 2007 are outdated and no longer supported by the manufacturer, hence they have been decommissioned now requiring a replacement. The instrument is essential in Life Science and Chemistry research and in research components of graduate and undergraduate education centered on the discovery and investigation of bioactive substances. The new instrument will serve around 40 users from twelve different research groups in the School of Science at Constructor University to support a wide range of important research topics including characterization of synthetic and naturally occurring bioactive substances, investigation of supramolecular systems, inorganic compounds, identification and quantification of human and plant metabolites, confirmation of chemical structures, and elucidation of unknown chemical entities and finally characterization of proteins and peptides from diverse samples of biological origin (from humans, plants and bacteria). Acquisition of a state-of-the-art new instrument will facilitate exchange of complementary expertise in experimental and analytical science, allowing continuation and expansion of scientific collaborations. The mass spectrometry instrumentation foreseen, includes a high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometer specified below 1 ppm mass accuracy, containing a collision cell unit allowing acquisition of tandem mass spectra, an ion mobility unit allowing determination of collisional cross sections coupled to an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography system for separation of analytes prior to mass spectrometrical analysis. The system is complemented by operation software and server based multi-user data analysis software. High-resolution mass spectrometers are considered standard instruments for the identification and quantification of synthetic and natural chemical substances yielding indispensable analytical data in Life Science and Chemistry research.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochauflösendes Flüssigkeitschromatographie gekoppeltes Ionenmobilitäts-Massenspektrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Constructor University Bremen
• Leader: Professor Dr. Nikolai Kuhnert