Analytical & Biological Mass Spectrometry Facility

The University of Arizona is home to a comprehensive suite of core facilities—the beating heart of cutting-edge research. Core facilities are state-of-the-art research hubs equipped with advanced instrumentation, expert personnel, and highly specialized services.

Providing access to essential tools and expertise across a diverse range of disciplines, core facilities are an invaluable resource for researchers across academia, government, and industry.

Our core facilities offer access to unique capabilities not available elsewhere on campus or even, in many cases, within the region. From advanced imaging and spectroscopy to high-throughput sequencing and computational resources, our facilities offer the support you need to realize the full potential of your research.

Whether you require technical assistance, experimental design guidance, or data analysis expertise, we’re here to support your project from inception to publication.

Not sure where to start? Email your questions to:
researchservices@email.arizona.edu

The Analytical & Biological Mass Spectrometry Core Facility offers mass measurements of synthetic products, polymers and whole proteins.The Core is located in room 124J in the BIO5 Keating Bioresearch Building on the North Campus. Facility personnel determine the mass of the molecular components of a sample for structural confirmation and/or identification. Services include confirmation or determination of unknowns, Proteomics, and, in the future, Metabolomics and Lipidomics.

The Core is equipped with mass spectrometers that can measure molecular masses with high mass accuracy, including a Bruker 9.4 Tesla FT-ICR, a Thermo LTQ Orbitrap Velos, and a Thermo Q Exactive Plus Orbitrap. The latter two instruments are dedicated to peptide analysis. The Core also has a second Q Exactive Plus Orbitrap that will be dedicated to the analysis of lipids and metabolites. Mass measurements of whole proteins and polymers can be made using the Core’s Bruker Autoflex Speed MALDI-TOF. Routine analyses (low mass accuracy) of a variety of compounds are made using the Bruker AmaZon SL Ion Trap, the ABI Sciex 4000 Q-Trap and the Shimadzu GC-MS. Additional equipment in the Core includes a UV-HPLC with a fraction collector, an AKTA FPLC for protein separations, and 1D- and 2D-gel electrophoresis equipment.

Services

SDS-PAGE, small gel (7 or 11cm)
2D-PAGE, small gel (11cm)
Protein MW determination (MALDI-TOF MS or ESI-MS)
HPLC-MS method development
Orbitrap MS (high resolution MS)
Orbitrap LC-MS/MS of a protein(s) digest (digested by user)
Orbitrap LC-MS/MS of a protein(s) in solution (includes digestion)
Orbitrap LC-MS/MS of a protein in gel (includes digestion)
Chromatography protein/peptide purification
Molecular interaction measurements by SPR
Abundant protein depletion
Protein Assay
Sample cleanup (zip tip, protein precipitation, SPE)
Gel staining
FTICR-MS (high resolution MS)
Low Resolution MS (Ion trap MS or MALDI-TOF MS)
Low Resolution MS separation (GC-MS or LC-Ion Trap or LC-4000 QTRAP)

Key Instruments

Thermo LTQ Orbitrap Velos with CID/ETD/HCD and nanoLC
Thermo Q Exactive Plus with HCD and nanoLC
Thermo Q Exactive Plus with HCD and UHPLC
AB Sciex 4000 QTRAP and capLC
Bruker 9.4T Apex Qh FTICR
Bruker AmaZon Ion Trap and capLC
Bruker Autoflex Speed MALDI-TOF
Shimadzu GC-MS
Biacore T100 Biosensor
GE Healthcare AKTA FPLC

Hours and Location

Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (24/7 Access for Trained Users)

Keating Bioresearch Building, Room 124J, 1657 E Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721 For more information and to schedule time, please click here. *Samples may be dropped off at the GATC freezer in the entryway to Room 106

Contacts

Krishna Parsawar, PhD Manager krishnaparsawar@arizona.edu (520) 626-4161	Lawrence Walker, PhD Assistant Staff Scientist larrywalker@arizona.edu (520) 626-4161	Yelena Feinstein, MS Research Specialist feinstei@pharmacy.arizona.edu (520) 626-4161	Kristen Kallen-Keck, BS Analytical Research Coordinator keck@arizona.edu (520) 626-4161