Using the Mini-Session Course Format To Train Students in the Practical Aspects of Modern Mass Spectrometry

Collaborative Learning Exercises for Teaching Protein Mass Spectrometry

“…Figure 2 shows a small mass-to-charge region in the MALDI-TOF mass spectrum of a peptide. The peptide has a monoisotopic mass of 1898.7, and peaks with higher m/z are due to the presence of higher mass isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen such as 13 C, 15 N, or 18 O. The [peptide + H + 1] + peak has a greater intensity than the [peptide + H] + peak because, in a molecule with more than 100 carbon atoms, the chance of having at least one carbon-13 atom is greater than having all carbon-12 atoms.…”

“…The laboratory is an ideal venue for introducing biological mass spectrometry, and several papers have been published in this Journal describing the implementation of proteomics experiments, such as determining the molecular weight of a protein, de novo peptide sequencing, and protein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting. − However, the high cost of MS instrumentation in general and HPLC-ESI-MS and MALDI-TOF in particular means that few undergraduate programs have access to advanced instrumentation for student use. MS instrumentation is not required by the Committee on Professional Training for ACS certification of undergraduate programs, but it is encouraged since departments must have instrumentation from four of the five major instrumentation categories .…”

Identification of Proteins Using Four Methods of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

“…A mixture of equine apomyoglobin, cytochrome c, and ovine lysozyme was separated on a 1D polyacrylamide gel and identified using PMF on MALDI following an in-gel digest with trypsin . Hands-on PMF on MALDI was also used in a minisession on modern MS used by Rosado et al Complex ribosomal protein extracts from E. coli , yeast, cow, chicken, and salmon were isolated using an ultracentrifuge, run on 1D PAGE gels, and identified using an in-gel digest PMF on MALDI-TOF . An egg-white protein mixture was digested with trypsin; the resulting peptides were analyzed using LC-ESI-TOF-MS and then matched to the known peptides in egg-white proteins …”

Reinforcing Mass Spectrometry Concepts through an Undergraduate Laboratory Exercise Utilizing a Direct Analysis in Real Time Enabled Mass Spectrometer

“…While linking theory with applications is crucial for their professional success, it has been reported that many students, both undergraduate and graduate students, struggle to grasp the theory of mass spectrometry and how it can be applied to real-world settings. , One way to strengthen this link is to offer authentic learning experiences with analytical instrumentation. Both students and instructors have long agreed that this approach is the most effective way to learn .…”

“…Student activities involving the DART technology exist, but are limited , due to it being a relatively newer technology. This makes this experiment an exciting addition to the literature and highly relevant for the students that will soon be embarking on professional careers. , Similar to an activity described by Stock and March, this exercise does not use chromatography, but rather, focuses on the different data collection modes of quadrupole mass spectrometers. Unlike Stock and March’s activity, this activity implements the DART ionization (a more recent technology) as part of data generation and asks students to solve real-world, forensically relevant questions.…”