High resolution tandem mass spectrometer for advanced proteomics

The instrument we wish to purchase is a "mass spectrometer", in essence a supersensitive balance to measure the mass for very tiny entities, in this case biological materials. Such instruments have revolutionized biological research. By using them we can identify many of the thousands of proteins in cells and dissect their elaborate properties. The instrument identifies either the presence of whole proteins or fragmented proteins. Correct identification and quantification of proteins including their crucial chemical decorations (or posttranslational modifications) is a bioinformatics process in which measured masses are matched with information in virtual libraries. These important protein properties that mass spectrometers reveal are essential for understanding any aspect of modern biology as proteins are the workhorses of biological processes. Once basic biological activities that involve proteins are understood we can use it to understand malfunctioning cells. In disease protein networks stop functioning properly. The same instrument is capable of monitoring particular protein-signatures used for diagnosis and disease staging and for monitoring disease.