Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource

Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem NC

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROTEOMICS AND METABOLOMICS SHARED RESOURCE (PMSR): PROJECT SUMMARY The Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource (PMSR) provides advanced mass spectrometry services, technologies, data analysis, and scientific consultation for global and targeted proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics to support Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (WFBCCC) efforts in precision oncology—one of the Cancer Center’s top strategic priorities. More broadly, PMSR specializes in discovery, identification, characterization, and quantification of biomolecules, drugs, and biologically active natural compounds by mass spectrometry and biochemical methods, and chromatography of proteins, peptides, lipids, and nucleic acids. Technology assets of PMSR include a Thermo Q-Exactive HF with Vanquish UHPLC for metabolomics and lipidomics services, a Shimadzu LCMS-8050 Triple Quadrupole, and a SCIEX Triple Quad™ 6500+ LC-MS/MS System for targeted analysis of small molecules (drugs, metabolites, natural products), a Thermo Orbitrap Velos Pro w/ETD MS with UltiMate™ 3000 RSLCnano system for proteomics, and a series of HPLC systems with UV-VIS and fluorescence detection. PMSR also has access to MS instruments in the Center for Precision Medicine (e.g., Thermo Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid and Thermo GC Q-Exactive HF mass spectrometers) and instruments in the PMSR Co-Director’s personal laboratory (Agilent 6120 MSD ESI-TOF MS). The institution has scheduled the acquisition of a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Eclipse w/ETD for the PMSR in the first quarter of FY22 (07/2021). Expertise and technical support for metabolic flux studies are provided in partnership with the University of Kentucky Resource Center for Stable Isotope-Resolved Metabolomics (one of the resource centers funded by the NIH Common Fund and associated with the NCI-Designated Markey Cancer Center). PMSR is directed by Cristina Furdui, PhD, and Mark Lively, PhD, and is supported by five highly trained staff. Over the recent years, the Wake Forest School of Medicine and WFBCCC provided critical support to maintain high-quality operations in the PMSR, contributing $108,965 to match the $200,000 awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center for the purchase of the Shimadzu LCMS-8050 mass spectrometer in 2017, $46,708 to purchase a new Vanquish UHPLC system in 2018, and $6,230 to purchase the Sigma Mass Spectrometry Metabolite Library. PMSR is managed by WFBCCC and is supported financially by the CCSG, the Wake Forest School of Medicine, and a chargeback mechanism. During the reporting period, the PMSR supported the research of 31 WFBCCC users (up from 17 reported at the previous CCSG renewal); 41 cancer grants; 5 clinical studies; and 30 publications. Total usage since 2016 corresponded to 33,291 hours (19,627 fee-for-service, 9,109 for development of new methods, and 4,555 for quality control and optimization).