Challenge: Developments of enabling technologies underpin continuing advances in biomolecular research. For instance, mass spectrometry (MS)-based sequencing techniques have spurned proteomics research in the past decade. Currently, there is no gold standard technique in metabolomics that allows a routine characterization of the thousands of constituents contained in these samples. NMR is limited to the more abundant analytes due to sensitivity issues. On the other hand, MS is typically capable of detecting many more features, but is often not able to structurally characterize these molecules. Rationale: By coupling tunable infrared (IR) lasers to mass spectrometry instrumentation, the IR spectra of mass- separated ions can be recorded. IR laser spectroscopy of ions combines the high sensitivity and ability to analyze complex mixtures of MS with the enhanced structural information from vibrational spectroscopy. The technique hence allows a chemical elucidation of many unknowns based on diagnostic vibrations and IR spectral fingerprints.
Aim 1 : Development of cryogenic mass spectrometry and multiplexed IR spectroscopy. In order to make IR spectroscopy a useful bioanalytical tool for biomolecular ions, it is essential that the IR spectra of analytes are well- resolved, and thus distinguishable, and that multiple analytes in mixtures can be probed simultaneously in a multiplexed fashion. We propose to develop a custom-built, cryogenic linear ion trap, where the ions are tagged with weakly-bound molecules (e.g. N2), which are selectively detached upon resonant IR absorption.
Aim 2 : IR spectroscopy of mass-separated metabolites. Our application of IR spectroscopy of biomolecules focuses on metabolites, where we expect the technique to have most potential. Control experiments on standard metabolites will establish how many analytes can be successfully probed in a multiplexed approach. The methodology will then be applied to selected metabolite samples from colon cancer studies, which have previously been analyzed by high- throughput liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
Aim 3 : Structural elucidation of unknown metabolites by comparison to computed IR spectra and bioinformatics approaches. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to chemically characterize unknown biomarkers that cannot be identified by current MS approaches. This requires a comparison of the experimental data for each analyte, namely its mass and its IR spectrum, to putative matches from metabolite databases. The IR spectra of known standards (from aim 2) will serve as a training set and as a benchmark for implementing this identification methodology. Innovation and Impact: The techniques developed here are expected to have the largest impact in global metabolomics, where current tandem mass spectrometry methodologies limit the number of constituents that can be identified in these mixtures. We expect the enhanced structural information from vibrational spectroscopy to yield many new insights in biomarker discovery.

Public Health Relevance

On-going progress in understanding complex biological systems on a molecular level is intimately linked to the emergence of novel technologies. The laser-based mass spectrometry techniques developed here will significantly expand the scope of characterizing and identifying metabolite biomarkers related to colon cancer that are beyond the reach of conventional methods. This novel technique can be implemented in a wide range of biochemical/biomedical fields, thus providing new avenues for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM110077-04
Application #
9215689
Study Section
Enabling Bioanalytical and Imaging Technologies Study Section (EBIT)
Program Officer
Sheeley, Douglas
Project Start
2014-04-01
Project End
2018-01-31
Budget Start
2017-02-01
Budget End
2018-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$200,404
Indirect Cost
$56,404
Name
University of Florida
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Cismesia, Adam P; Bell, Matthew R; Tesler, Larry F et al. (2018) Infrared ion spectroscopy: an analytical tool for the study of metabolites. Analyst 143:1615-1623
Tesler, Larry F; Cismesia, Adam P; Bell, Matthew R et al. (2018) Operation and Performance of a Mass-Selective Cryogenic Linear Ion Trap. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 29:2115-2124
Smith, Justin S; Isayev, Olexandr; Roitberg, Adrian E (2017) ANI-1, A data set of 20 million calculated off-equilibrium conformations for organic molecules. Sci Data 4:170193
Smith, J S; Isayev, O; Roitberg, A E (2017) ANI-1: an extensible neural network potential with DFT accuracy at force field computational cost. Chem Sci 8:3192-3203
Cismesia, Adam P; Tesler, Larry F; Bell, Matthew R et al. (2017) Infrared ion spectroscopy inside a mass-selective cryogenic 2D linear ion trap. J Mass Spectrom 52:720-727
Cismesia, Adam P; Nicholls, Georgina R; Polfer, Nicolas C (2017) Amine vs. carboxylic acid protonation in ortho-, meta-, and para-aminobenzoic acid: An IRMPD spectroscopy study. J Mol Spectrosc 332:79-85
Patrick, Amanda L; Cismesia, Adam P; Tesler, Larry F et al. (2017) Effects of ESI conditions on kinetic trapping of the solution-phase protonation isomer of p-aminobenzoic acid in the gas phase. Int J Mass Spectrom 418:148-155
Cismesia, Adam P; Bailey, Laura S; Bell, Matthew R et al. (2016) Making Mass Spectrometry See the Light: The Promises and Challenges of Cryogenic Infrared Ion Spectroscopy as a Bioanalytical Technique. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 27:757-66