The Beatson Institute

Proteomics

The Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry service has a new laboratory on level 2 housing three new LC-MS systems (LTQ orbitrap velos and Exactive) for proteomic and metabolomic analyses. In March 2011, we took delivery of the first 5600 tripleTOF mass spectrometer installed in a UK research laboratory and this system will provide a state-of-the-art platform for quantitative proteomics (SILAC, iTRAQ, label-free) and metabolomics.

The facility’s activities also include the training of users in bi-dimensional gel separation of proteins using the Ettan IPGphor and DALT systems from GE Healthcare as well as DiGE™ quantitation techniques. Visualisation of fluorescence is performed using the TYPHOON fluorescent imager. Image treatment to quantify differential protein expression is done using DeCyder™ software.

Data processing after acquisition on the mass spectrometer requires extensive computer-based treatment. A dedicated informatician manages the on-site Mascot server, and implements and develops new user analysis tools. We also maintain our interaction with the Swiss-Prot group in Geneva, which allows us to annotate and update protein sequence information in the UniProt-KB/Swiss-Prot database.

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Research