Challenges in biological surfaces interrogation and structural assignment using mass spectrometry based technologies

“Challenges in biological surfaces interrogation and structural assignment using mass spectrometry based technologies”

Francisco Fernandez-Lima., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Director of the Advance Mass Spectrometry Program

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Florida International University

Abstract:

The characterization of biological systems requires the knowledge of their chemical constituents, locations, and dynamics. Mass spectrometry (MS) provides unrivaled capability for the detection, characterization and identification of a large number of analytes (e.g., hundreds to thousands) in a single experiment from an in vivo, in vitro or in situ tissue section. There are two main challenges in the molecular characterization of native surfaces: the quantity of sample available for analysis and the dynamic mass range. Our research group focuses on the development of nanometer probes for mass spectrometry based imaging for the study at the single cell and sub-cellular level of "native state" biological surfaces with: i) enhanced lateral resolution, ii) enhanced emission of molecular ions and iii) fast gas-phase, post-ionization separation techniques. In the present talk, we will describe the new instrumentation that is currently develop in our group for the characterization of biological domains (NP-FTICR-SIMS) and for the study of gas-phase, kinetic intermediates and conformational dynamics of biological molecules (TIMS-MS).

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

2:30 – 3:30 pm

Location – Mason 107

Host:   Professor Juan de la Mora

Refreshments served at 2:15 pm