Mass Spectrometry Identifies Functions of Lipids
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The University of Utrecht in the Netherlands has announced that it has invested in three Applied Biosystems' mass spectrometers, an API 2000™, an API 3000™ and a 4000 Q TRAP® LC/MS/MS System, for their lipidomics research facility.
"We needed increased sensitivity and resolution to look more closely at the lipid subtypes, subclasses and molecular species," said Dr Jos Brouwers, Assistant Professor within the Biochemistry Department.
"The principles behind the Q TRAP System are ideal for lipidomics, having the big advantage of being able to switch between positive and negative modes within a second.”
“The very high sensitivity is especially important for less abundant compounds such as signalling lipids, and the Q TRAP System has all the typical triple quad facilities that you would expect, such as precursor scanning.”
“We are very happy with the robustness of all the machines, and Applied Biosystems' excellent service. Lipids are such small molecules that I am often astonished by the effects they can have.”
“For example, we have been investigating a specific lipid secreted by the schistosome parasite that is able to silence the host's immune response.”
“We found that the lipid is very similar to one that humans make, but with a couple of small structural differences, and these findings have important implications for drug development."
