#Mass Spectrometry

[mariamariamare]

[crisis-vision]

Learning about Kendrick mass defect plots 🤍

It feels good learning about things that directly apply to my research 🔬

[materialsscienceandengineering]

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory researcher Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., developed new analytical methods to rapidly analyze fuels and complex petroleum products by using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The approaches Romanczyk utilizes enable highly detailed qualitative analysis of complex mixtures in minutes. One recent method facilitated the investigation of chemical changes that occurred in weathered crude oil in terrestrial environments. Several of the methods were recently published in the science journal Fuel. "Despite the accidental rise of oil spilled onto landmasses, less research has been dedicated to evaluating the compositional changes/fate of oil prior to its introduction into bodies of water" said Romanczyk. "The lack of information affords an opportunity to investigate and qualitatively characterize oil as a function of weathering time in the absence of an aqueous environment. These studies may provide highly useful information for oil spill cleanup and exposure concerns."

Read more.

[ihavementalillinois]

Science is so crazy i went to get trained in ICP-MS today and the guy was like "here is the plasma. it is as hot as the suns surface" YOU CANNOT JUST SAY THAT SHIT BRO WYM?????

[sbgridconsortium]

Understanding how iron affects stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 activity.

Enzymes are the manufacturing facilities of the cell. They take the materials provided by the environment and convert them into cellularly relevant chemicals. The physical processes that allow enzymes to do this vital work are of interest to scientists because of the possibility of treating enzyme-related diseases, using enzymes as therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, and harnessing their manufacturing process for production of chemicals relevant to society. In a recent study by SBGrid member Ming Zhou from Baylor College of Medicine, the maintenance and function of a subclass of enzymes becomes more apparent. 

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) is an enzyme that localizes in the endoplasmic reticulum of cells and contains two iron atoms at its core. SCD1 uses the core irons to carry out the catalytic function of adding a double bond to fatty acids, thus creating unsaturated fatty acids. This enzyme contributes to diseases like cancer and diabetes and is a possible target to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Zhou and colleagues pursue an answer to how and why SCD1 loses enzymatic activity after a certain amount of uses. 

Above: Published structure of SCD-1 diiron active site. PDB: 6WF2. CC BY SBGRID

Similar to common machines in a household, enzymes stop functioning after a certain number of uses. Understanding why a machine stops working can provide insight about how to keep them working longer and more effectively. Zhou and company used enzyme activity assays to show that SCD1 lost function after 8.5 reactions due to the loss of an iron from the active site of the enzyme. The team used UV-vis spectroscopy, EPR, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to confirm that the loss of activity was due to the loss of iron in the active site. They also found that this iron loss could be remedied by providing an excess of available iron for SCD1 to take up and continue its work, though once SCD1 becomes inactive this treatment can not restore activity. This provides a possible “repair” for low SCD1 activity by ensuring that it has a large pool of possible iron molecules with which to maintain its function. This study provides interesting insight into how to limit and possibly prevent enzyme self-inactivation. 

Read more about this work in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

-Vida Storm Robertson, Fisk University

[teachersource]

Koichi Tanaka was born on August 3, 1959. A Japanese electrical engineer who shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002 for developing a novel method for mass spectrometric analyses of biological macromolecules with John Bennett Fenn andand Kurt Wüthrich (the latter for work in NMR spectroscopy). In February 1985, Tanaka found that by using a mixture of ultra fine metal powder in glycerol as a matrix, an analyte can be ionized without losing its structure, solving a problem in existing mass spectrometry at the time.

[superchemistryclasses]

From Ions to Insights: How Mass Spectrometry is Transforming Modern Research

🌟 Introduction: What is Mass Spectrometry and Why Is It Important? Mass spectrometry is a special tool that scientists use to study different substances. It helps find out what a material is made of by checking its smallest parts—molecules and atoms. Using this technique, researchers can understand the weight, type, and structure of different compounds. That’s why mass spectrometry is now one of…

[ccitusa]

Helium mass spectrometry is a highly effective and precise method for leak testing foil pouches, ensuring their integrity and preserving the quality of the packaged products. The method’s high sensitivity, rapid testing process, and minimal impact on the tested products due to helium’s inert properties make it a preferred choice. Moreover, helium leak testing is cost-effective and efficient, offering manufacturers reliable and fast results. Ultimately, helium leak testing plays a crucial role in safeguarding the quality and safety of products within foil pouches.

[dieletztepanzerhexe]

I had a nightmare last night that I had my driving lesson and ofc everything was going wrong and there was a mudflood of sorts and my instructor left me alone for a moment ans everything went to shit, like the road started melting in the rain and suddently I was ridign a bike in the forest and my bike slipped down the slope and the frame broke. Terrible terrible stress dreams.

I also had a dream about mass spectrometry T_T I think I was trying to sneak ancient iron scissors I found somewhere to the lab. Why

[mariamariamare]

Our first day, we never forget!

[simonh]

Perspectives In Mass Spectrometry by National Library of Medicine Via Flickr: Alternate Title(s): Mass spectrometry Contributor(s): National Institutes of Health, (U.S.). Medical Arts and Photography Branch., International Symposium on Mass Spectrometry in the Health and Life Sciences 1989 : San Francisco, Calif.) Publication: [Bethesda, Md. : Medical Arts and Photography Branch, National Institutes of Health, 1989?] Language(s): English Format: Still image Subject(s): Mass Spectrometry Genre(s): Congresses, Posters Abstract: Black poster with silver, orange, turquoise, and green fireworks spread across it, with two turquoise printouts (possibly from an EKG or EEG) along the top. The remainder of the poster lists an MS Workshop, dedication of a mass spectrometer, reception, and the 2nd International Symposium on Mass Spectrometry in the Health & Life Sciences. Times, places, and a phone number for further information are also given. Extent: 1 photomechanical print (poster) : 65 x 46 cm. Technique: color NLM Unique ID: 101454138 NLM Image ID: C00765 Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101454138

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Mass spectrometry, a technique that can precisely identify the chemical components of a sample, could be used to monitor the health of people who suffer from chronic illnesses. For instance, a mass spectrometer can measure hormone levels in the blood of someone with hypothyroidism. But mass spectrometers can cost several hundred thousand dollars, so these expensive machines are typically confined to laboratories where blood samples must be sent for testing. This inefficient process can make managing a chronic disease especially challenging. "Our big vision is to make mass spectrometry local. For someone who has a chronic disease that requires constant monitoring, they could have something the size of a shoebox that they could use to do this test at home. For that to happen, the hardware has to be inexpensive," says Luis Fernando Velásquez-García, a principal research scientist in MIT's Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL).

Read more.

[biopharmaceuticalindustry]

Revolutionizing Pharmaceuticals: The Dynamic Evolution of Mass Spectrometry Mass spectrometry revolutionizes pharmaceuticals by providing precise molecular insights, accelerating drug discovery, ensuring product quality, and meeting regulatory standards. Challenges like complexity and cost are mitigated by ongoing advancements and education. Leading companies like Pfizer, Roche, and Novartis leverage mass spectrometry to drive innovation and deliver impactful therapies.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

This is achieved using multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS, figure 27.17) to search for minute (one part in 10,000) variations in the uranium isotopic composition of meteorites derived from asteroidal-sized objects that were formed at the start of the solar system: these variations were previously too small to detect.

FIGURE 27.17 The MC-ICPMs instrument used to measure uranium isotopes.

"Chemistry" 2e - Blackman, A., Bottle, S., Schmid, S., Mocerino, M., Wille, U.

[gauricmi]

From Glycans to Function: Navigating the Landscape of Glycomics

Glycomics, the study of complex carbohydrates known as glycans, represents a multifaceted field that delves into the diverse roles these molecules play in biological systems. By unraveling the intricate relationships between glycans and cellular function, researchers navigate a complex landscape that holds promise for advancing our understanding of health, disease, and beyond.

Glycomics in Biological Context: Glycans are ubiquitous in nature, adorning cell surfaces and influencing a myriad of physiological processes, from cell-cell recognition to immune response modulation.

Understanding the functional significance of Glycomics requires comprehensive analysis of their structures, interactions, and dynamics within biological systems.

Glycan Biosynthesis and Regulation

The intricate process of glycan biosynthesis is tightly regulated within cells, involving a complex network of enzymes, transporters, and regulatory factors.

Dysregulation of glycan biosynthesis pathways can have profound implications for cellular function, contributing to disease states such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic syndromes.

Glycomics Technologies and Analytical Approaches

Advances in glycomics technologies, including mass spectrometry, glycan microarrays, and glycan profiling techniques, have revolutionized our ability to study glycans in unprecedented detail.

These analytical approaches enable researchers to map glycan structures, characterize glycan-protein interactions, and elucidate glycan-mediated signaling pathways, providing valuable insights into their functional roles.

Get More Insights On This Topic: Glycomics