Chemistry
Faculty Awarded NSF Research Instrumentation Grant (Winthrop
Press Release)
Aug. 14, 2007
The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass
spectrometer analyzes biopolymers such as proteins and large environmental
organic molecules which cannot be analyzed by more conventional ionization
methods. It will be used to provide insights in the role of arginine
methylation in cancer studies, to probe the structure
and function of a new class of peptide hormone receptors affecting obesity, to
identify novel enzymes for use as biocatalysts in the degradation of biomass
and to rapidly identify specific biomarkers from indicator organisms in the
Catawba basin. None of these studies are currently feasible at
Winthrop and all would couple existing instrumental resources with the
proposed instrument to dramatically advance the research capabilities of
the university.
Winthrop’s application was one
of only 14 chosen to receive funding from 75 proposals submitted by
universities with non-Ph.D. chemistry programs. This
represents the largest National Science Foundation research grant in
Winthrop’s history. The
instrumentation will significantly improve Winthrop's faculty-mentored student
research and student research training experiences. The submitted proposal
estimated that 240 Winthrop students, 17 faculty, and three to five industrial
scientists will use or be trained on the instrumentation each year. The
acquired mass spectrometry instrumentation will be managed by a bioanalytical mass spectroscopist
and three analytical chemists.
The instrument, one of the most
heavily used research tools in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, will be incorporated into chemistry and
biochemistry courses and will directly impact seven research projects in the
Department of Chemistry.
Sep
28, 2007: Applied Biosystems API 2000 MS/MS and
Voyager DE STR MALDI-TOF arrive at Winthrop’s Central Receiving
