Because of its high throughput, sensitivity and chemical information content, mass spectrometry is well-suited to characterizing mass limited complex samples. Experiments are often performed using multiple stages of separation, but also involve direct tissue profiling. The ability of a mass spectrometry system depends on the sample ionization approach and the details of the mass analyzer. The Sweedler group owns multiple mass spec instruments: a Bruker ultrafleXtreme MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer and six electrospray instruments, including a Bruker maXis 4G tandem Qq-TOF mass spectrometer (80,000 resolution), a Bruker Impact HD Qq-TOF (50,000 resolution), a Bruker ion trap amaZon Speed ETD (20,000 resolution), a Bruker micrOTOF Benchtop ESI-TOF mass spectrometer (interfaced to a home-built capillary electrophoresis system), a Bruker EVOQ Elite triple quadrupole, and an ABI QSTAR with interchangeable ESI & MALDI sources that has also been adapted to work with a C60 ion source in SIMS mode. More information on mass spectrometry, including the types of instruments, can be found at: http://www.asms.org/about/about-mass-spectrometry. Current MS-related projects include: In Vivo and Ex Vivo Sampling of Neuropeptides Three Dimensional Molecular Imaging |