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The Organic
& Biological Mass Spectrometry Group at
Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducts fundamental and applied research
in organic and biological mass spectrometry. This research ranges
from the study of the chemistry of ions in the gas-phase to the
identification and characterization of peptides and proteins in
complex matrices. Instrument development is conducted to support
the needs of the various research goals and is generally intended
to lead to improved analytical capabilities. Particular emphasis
has been placed in ion source advancement and in trapped ion techniques,
such as quadrupole ion trap and Fourier transform ion cyclotron
resonance mass spectrometries. Time-of-flight, quadrupole, and hybrid
mass spectrometers are employed in particular projects.
Fundamental
studies in ion chemistry are conducted to determine reaction mechanisms,
ion structures, and ion stabilities for species ranging from small
organic molecules to high mass biopolymers. The research involves
unimolecular reactions, and ion/molecule chemistry. Advances in
understanding in these areas lead to new and enhanced methods for
structural characterization of analyte ions and to improved specificity
and/or sensitivity in trace compound detection. Similarly, ionization
methods, such as electrospray, desorption electrospray, and tip-enhanced,
near-field laser desorption, are being studied to expand the fundamental
understanding of the techniques and to expand the applicability
of mass spectrometry to a broader range of analysis problems. Current
specific areas of research emphasis include atmospheric pressure
ionization surface sampling for high-throughput analysis and chemical
imaging at the micro- and nanoscale, electrochemistry combined on-line
with mass spectrometry, high-throughput characterization of protein-protein
interactions by LC-MS, large-scale shotgun LC-MS/MS approaches for
microbial proteome characterizations of both isolates and naturally-occurring
communities, and protein higher order structural investigations
by surface mapping FT-ICR MS.
The group has
extensive experience in the development of instrumentation and analytical
methods for detection of a wide variety of organic and biological
molecules in various matrices including biomolecules (principally
peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides), high explosives, drugs,
environmental pollutants, chemical agents, fullerenes and porphyrins.
The group is widely recognized in the scientific community for the
development and application of mass spectrometry techniques for
proteomics and metabolomics.
For
more information, contact Gary
Van Berkel at (865) 574-1922.
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