Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry for Comprehensive Metabolomics (360G-Wellcome-093148_Z_10_Z)

This application is a request to part fund the upgrade of one of the mass spectrometers used by researchers in Cambridge to conduct open profiling of metabolites, including intact lipids. The requested instrument is a Waters UPLC QToF Xevo which will combine highly reproducible ultra-high pressure chromatography and near exact mass analysis to provide an instrument that will be able to both separate a large number of components and identify these components by a combination of MS and MS^E fragme ntation. The major aims are: 1. To increase sensitivity of the current open profiling LC-MS assays within the Griffin group. This in itself will increase the number of metabolites that can be detected by the instrument, particularly in negative mode where the current Ultima QToF is poor. 2. Allow the use of MS^E and improved software tools for metabolite ID. This will be particularly useful for lipid species where fragmentation produces spectra characteristic of different lipid species. 3. A llow increased use of the instrument by providing a machine that can be used in open access mode for routine LC-MS analysis. Currently one of the biggest bottle necks for collaborators is the availability of experienced users in the Griffin group.