About Us

The UConn-Storrs Mass Spectrometry Facility was inaugurated on August 1, 2007. This Facility recognizes the increasingly important role of mass spectrometry in determining small molecule and protein structure, purity, identity and analytical aspects of drug design.

The Mass Spectrometry Facility serves the analytical needs of a diverse group of investigators from Molecular & Cell Biology, Chemistry, Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, Animal Sciences, Plant Sciences, Anthropology, Geology, Pharmacy, the UConn Health Center, the UConn Marine Sciences Program at Avery Point, and the Institute of Material Sciences located at Storrs.

External users include: Central and Eastern Connecticut State Universities (CCSU and ESCSU), Connecticut College, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Connecticut Forensic Laboratory, and several private sector corporations.

Services, consultations, and guidance are provided by facility scientists and co-heads.

From left to right: Dennis Hill and Srikanth Rapole, Facility Scientists;
and Xudong Yao and David Grant, Facility Co-Heads

Research Potential

The Mass Spectrometry Facility directly supports and impacts research programs in the following areas:

• Structure-function Relationships
• Structure of Proteins
• Nano-material Analysis
• Small Molecule Identification and Quantification
• Conformational Analysis
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Chemical Synthesis
• Mass Spectrometry Methods Development

Instrumentation

The Mass Spectrometry Facility possesses a Q-TOF which is equipped with an API ionization source that operates in either electrospray (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APcI) mode useful for a broad range of molecules to ~12 kDa. This instrument is capable of precision mass determination as well as structural elucidation by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A dedicated HPLC affords compound separation in mixtures.

Peptide Sequencing by Mass Spectrometry

The Mass Spectrometry Facility took delivery early in 2008 of a new Q-Star Elite Spectrometer. The Q-Star possesses fast MS/MS acquisition and can quickly assess spectral quality and dynamically adjust fragmentation quality and acquisition duration. The Q-Star Elite's dynamic exclusion feature offers multiple charge states and provides a dramatic increase in the number of distinct peptide and protein identifications.

Cost for Services

Current pricing for services can by found at: http://www.biotech.uconn.edu/msf/forms/msf-budgetcertform.pdf.

All rates are subject to periodic review and change.

For specific price information contact the Facility Scientists.