Project Summary
The main goal of this revised application is to purchase a high-performance MALDI ToF/ToF mass
spectrometer at the University of Puerto Rico, Molecular Science Research Center (MSRC). Planning of
this instrumentation proposal has brought together 16 scientists from three research centers (UPR-Rio
Piedras, UPR-Medical Sciences and Institute of Neurobiology in San Juan) in a common effort to enhance
our Mass Spectrometry and Proteomic facilities at the MSRC (http://cicim.upr.edu/). The user base of our
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomic facilities has become increasingly large and interdisciplinary, thus
placing more demands in terms of the variety of services and applications that must be provided. To meet
these demands, and to maintain a competitive facility, we propose to acquire a new MALDI ToF/ToF mass
spectrometer. After careful evaluation of the different MALDI ToF/ToF mass spectrometers in the market,
we determined that the best instrument to fulfill our research and R&D needs at the MSRC is the MALDI-
7090 from Shimadzu. Furthermore, in the years to come, we feel that the application scientists from
Shimadzu will help us to develop novel methods as the MS field evolves, which will be critical to stay
abreast with the scientific challenges ahead. This instrument will impact a list of research projects and
new grant applications that include biologically relevant studies such as the development of an HIV-1 Env
protein as a vaccine candidate, HIV-associate dementia studies, regulation of the EGFR signaling in
inflammatory breast cancer, using lipidomic analysis of acetylcholine receptor detergent-complexes to
enhance its crystallization, development of nanomaterials for water purification, neuropeptide
characterization in schistosomiasis and development of anticancer drug delivery agents. The proposed
upgrade will serve to foster and strengthen collaborative and multidisciplinary collaborations among
investigators at the MSRC and other institutions inside and outside Puerto Rico. Another important aspect
for the development of these Mass Spectrometry Facility is the service that this facility can provide to
researchers who will be recruited to pursue basic and biomedical relevant projects at UPR in the near
future. In addition, the upgraded facility will enhance faculty's, postdoctoral fellows' and graduate
students’ knowledge and skills required for competitive research. Finally, this upgrade will impact the
development of a large population of students that are currently supported by fellowships or
assistantships provided by NIH, NASA, and NSF sponsored programs.
