This proposal requests funds for the purchase of an electrospray triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with on line HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry capability. It is planned that the instrument will serve primarily by nine user groups at the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center. A broad range of independently supported studies are ongoing and all require the requested instrumentation. Most of the projects are directed at analysis of peptides and proteins and the proposed instrument will be located and operated within the institutional share Protein Chemistry Facility. The instrument will provide the user groups with ready access for the first time to low to sub-picomole level accurate mass spectrometric analyses of peptides and proteins covering a relatively broad mass range. There currently are no mass spectrometry instruments at the Cell Science Center. Mass spectrometry has become an indispensable tool for peptide and protein structure- function studies and is essential for satisfactory progress in the ongoing and future biological research at the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center.
