Refeyn TwoMP Mass Photometer

Rutgers Biomedical And Health Sciences, Newark NJ

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract/Project Summary We are seeking funding to purchase a Refeyn Two-MP Mass Photometer, a cutting-edge instrument that will revolutionize our research capabilities. This instrument enables quantitative label-free single-particle mass measurement of biomolecules in solution, resolving a broad range of mass species (30 kDa to 5 MDa) across various oligomeric states, quantifying protein molecular interactions, determining stoichiometry, and optimizing conditions for functional assays and macromolecular assembly. Its integration will significantly enhance structural, biochemical, and biological research by NIH-funded researchers at Rutgers University and Rutgers Health. The instrument will be housed at the Mass Spectrometry core facility within the Proteomic building at Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). It will be the first of its kind across Rutgers University and Rutgers Health campuses, filling a critical void in available technologies and benefiting numerous investigators. Core users will include NIH-funded and junior investigators’ research laboratories, with accessibility extended to other researchers. The instrument's unique ability to quantify mass with high resolution and accuracy under native conditions with minimal sample volume and concentrations, as well as its capacity to measure interactions in the nanomolar concentrations, make it an invaluable tool for screening samples for structural and functional studies. Recent advancements in the microfluidics attachment to the Two-MP enable the quantitation of weak molecular interactions at micromolar concentrations, further enhancing its utility. The instrument’s capabilities extend beyond conventional methods, potentially replacing or complementing techniques such as size exclusion chromatography, multiangle light scattering, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and protein interaction assays. We have strong institutional support from the Rutgers Health Chancellor, RWJMS Dean, and Rutgers University to ensure support staff and space in the core facility, and service contracts. The operation of the instrument is user-friendly, akin to the nanodrop instrument, requiring minimal training. A support staff at the core facility will oversee routine cleaning, maintenance, and coordination of usage and fees. A technical expert committee composed of local members with strong expertise in single-molecule optical methods will provide consultation on experimental design and advice on data interpretation. An advisory committee has been formed to ensure proper and efficient use of the instrument. The anticipated outcomes of this acquisition are significant, including bolstering current NIH-funded projects and empowering junior faculty to explore previously inaccessible research avenues. The instrument is expected to catalyze new collaborations and discoveries across the basic, clinical, and applied research missions of Rutgers and to accelerate biomedical discoveries widely.