Mission

The Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Center, University of California, Los Angeles, directed by Dr. Joseph Loo, is a new facility established for the characterization of proteins and peptides. It is a core facility affiliated with the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCLA School of Medicine), and the Departments of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry. It provides consultation and instrumentation for mass spectrometric characterization of peptides, proteins and protein complexes, including common post-translational protein modifications - phosphorylation, glycosylation, myristoylation - and several hundred other possible adducts.

A moderate throughput integrated system for protein identification is available. The Proteome Works System includes the following:

1. 2-D gel electrophoretic separation equipment (IEF/SDS-PAGE) [BIO-RAD] capable of running 24 gels every 36 hours.
2. Instruments for gel imaging, analysis and automated spot cutting and data tracking [BIO-RAD].
3. A Micromass MassPREP station for automated protein digestion from microtiter plates and spotting on MALDI (Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization) targets.
4. A Micromass M@LDI -TOF HT for automated analysis (reflectron mode only) and data processing of 200-1000 samples per day.

Additional instruments in the Proteomics Facility and affiliated laboratories include:

1. An Agilent 1100 LC/MSD ion trap mass spectrometer and capillary LC system, with autosampler configured to 96-well plates. Samples not identified by MALDI MS are analyzed using LC-MS on either the ion trap or the Q-TOF Instruments described below.
2. Two Q-TOF LC-MS instruments (QStar XL, Sciex/Applied Biosystems) for high resolution/high mass accuracy peptide mapping, with electrospray ionization (ESI) and MALDI capabilities.
3. Two MALDI-TOF instruments with both linear and reflectron mode capabilities (Perseptive DE-STR).
4. A Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FTICR) instrument (IonSpec Ultima 7T) for high resolution and mass accuracy, with MALDI and ESI capabilities.

A variety of options for peptide and protein identification are available, depending upon the needs and expertise of the user. Automated protein digestion and mass spectrometric analyses, with few exceptions, are performed by personnel associated with the facility. Sample extraction, electrophoretic separation, gel imaging and spot-cutting can either be performed by the user following training, or by facility personnel.