This award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities Program will aid in purchasing a Reflectron Matrix-Assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer for the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. The research studies to be performed include the following: (1) Protein Design and Protein Refolding; (2) Analysis of Oligosaccharides and Glycopeptides with a MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer; (3) Polymeric Carbohydrate Inhibitors; (4) Applications of MALDI- TOF Mass Spectrometry in Gene Sequencing; (5) Analysis of Peptides with a Reflectron MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer; (6) Polymer Interfaces and Dynamics; and (7) Lateral Diffusion of Vinyl Polymers at the A/W Interface and of Star Polymer at the Toluene/Water Interface. Mass Spectrometry (MS) is a technique used to probe intimate structural details and to obtain the molecular compositions of a vast array of organic, bioorganic and organometallic molecules. The addition of the technique of electrospray extends the range of MS to protein and nucleic acid molecular weights far beyond any other technique. The use of electrospray ionization in combination with high resolution provides the latest techniques available in mass spectrometry. It affords the chemist one of the most powerful tools available for the characterization of compounds. The acquisition of this capability in mass spectrometry is essential for the prosecution of frontier research in many fields of chemistry.
