2008 Scientific Report

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Van Andel Research Institute | Scientific Report Gregory S. Cavey, B.S. Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Mr. Cavey received his B.S. degree from Michigan State University in 1990. Prior to joining VARI he was employed at Pharmacia in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for nearly 15 years. As a member of a biotechnology development unit, he was group leader for a protein characterization core laboratory. More recently as a research scientist, he was principal in the establishment and application of a state-of-the-art proteomics laboratory for drug discovery. Mr. Cavey joined VARI as a Special Program Investigator in July 2002. Staff Paula Davidson, M.S. Caryn Lehner, M.S. Student Matthew McElliott 12
VARI | 2008 Research Interests Through recent advancements in technology, mass spectrometry–based proteomics is now an important and widespread tool in basic and clinical research. In 2005, VARI purchased a Waters Q-Tof mass spectrometry system that remains at the cutting edge of many research applications. This equipment allows us to provide routine mass spectrometry services and to develop new services such as protein profiling for biomarker discovery and protein phosphorylation analysis. Protein identification analysis and protein molecular weight determination are routine services performed on sub-microgram amounts of material to address a wide variety of biological questions. Protein identification via mass spectrometry is mainly used to identify novel protein-protein interactions and can be performed on proteins in SDS-PAGE gels or proteins in solutions. Molecular weight determination of protein solutions is typically employed to confirm the expression and purification of recombinant proteins to be used as reagents in x-ray crystallographic experiments or drug screening/cell-based assays. Our research emphasis is on 1) developing liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) protein profiling analysis for systems biology research and biomarker discovery and 2) improving methods for identifying and quantifying phosphorylation of proteins. LC-MS protein profiling Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry is used at most major research institutions to analyze complex protein mixtures for systems biology research and biomarker discovery. Our lab collaborates with Waters Corporation, a major manufacturer of mass spectrometry and HPLC equipment, to evaluate and improve existing methods while applying LC-MS to the research efforts at VARI and to those of external clients. Our LC-MS system employs a novel data acquisition method unique to Waters mass spectrometers, termed LC-MS E , whereby quantitative and qualitative data are collected in a single analysis. Protein samples are first digested into peptides using trypsin and then analyzed by reverse-phase nanoscale LC-MS. Recording peptide mass, HPLC retention time, and intensity as measured in the mass spectrometer, we digitize the data to allow comparisons across samples. Quantitation is based on the measurement and subsequent comparison of the chromatographic peak area for each peptide across samples. Qualitative protein identification data is collected in a multiplexed, non-intensity-biased fashion concurrent with quantitative data. One current pilot project is a time-course analysis of protein secretion (secretome) from mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes as they differentiate in response to treatment with dexamethasone-insulin or with the PPARg antagonist rosiglitasone; a second is the study of the secretome of a cell line model of hypoxia. In addition to mechanismof-action studies, our goal is to use LC-MS to discover candidate biomarkers of disease. Current research efforts focus on sample processing techniques to reproducibly fractionate highly complex samples such as blood plasma, tissue, and urine to allow quantitative analysis. Replicate LC-MS analysis of carefully chosen samples and multivariate data analysis will allow us to differentiate between normal biological variation and disease. Protein phosphorylation analysis Mapping post-translational modifications of proteins such as phosphorylation is an important yet difficult undertaking. In cancer research, phosphorylation regulates many protein pathways that could serve as targets for drug therapy. In recent years, mass spectrometry has emerged as a primary tool in determining site-specific phosphorylation and relative quantitation. Phosphorylation analysis is complicated by many factors, but principally by the low-stoichiometry modifications that may regulate pathways: we are sometimes dealing with 0.01% or less of phosphorylated protein among a large excess of a nonphosphorylated counterpart. 13
Page 2 and 3: Cover photo: Prostate tumor PC3 cel
Page 4 and 5: Van Andel Research Institute | Scie
Page 68 and 69:
Van Andel Research Institute | Scie
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106:
show all

2008 Scientific Report

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?