The Molecular Biology Proteomics Facility is a core laboratory with a mission to provide high quality results for several research services. Our staff of six highly trained scientists performs the various experimental procedures. These services include proteomic analysis, specifically biomolecule mass spectrometry, Edman protein sequence analysis and amino acid analysis. In addition, the lab provides peptide synthesis and peptide/protein micro-purification. The lab also provides protein conjugation services. This includes conjugation of peptides to carrier proteins as well as the conjugation of detection agents such as Cy5.5 or fluorescein to various proteins. The instrumentation available for mass spectrometry and proteomics services include four mass spectrometers, three electrospray systems and one MALDI-Tof. The electrospray systems include two Applied Biosystems QSTAR hybrid quadrupole/Tof mass spectrometers, one of which is the new QSTAR Elite.

The third electrospray system is a Bruker-Daltonics HCT Ultra ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an Electron Transfer Dissociation (ETD) source for MS/MS analysis for post-translational modifications of proteins. These electrospray systems are equipped to perform either capillary scale LC/MS/MS or nanospray/MS/MS. The fourth mass spectrometer is an Applied Biosystems Voyager DE Pro MALDI-Tof mass spectrometer. For Edman sequencing experiments we have a Procise model 492 protein sequencer. A Rainin PTI Symphony multiple peptide synthesizer is used for our peptide synthesis.

The amino acid analyzer system utilizes cation-exchange chromatography and post-column reaction with ninhydrin for amino acid detection. Our prep HPLC services utilize five HPLC units depending upon the quantity of protein or peptide to be purified. We have three HPLC systems capable of medium scale purification of up to one hundred milligrams per run. In addition, we have one micro/capillary HPLC and one capillary/nano HPLC for purification at the microgram to nanogram level. These services are provided, for a fee, to any laboratory that requires this type of approach.

The laboratory is located in room 1102 of the Biomedical Research Center Building on the campus of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City. Information may be obtained or orders placed in person at BRC-1102, by telephone at (405) 271-8142, by FAX at (405) 271-3922 or by E-mail at ken-jackson@ouhsc.edu.