timsTOF Ultra-2 mass spectrometer with Evosep LC for Emory - The Emory Glycomics and Molecular Interactions Core (EGMIC) requests support for the acquisition of a Bruker timsTOF Ultra-2 mass spectrometry system, coupled with an Evosep LC, to provide Emory’s research community with transformative analytical capabilities for ultra-sensitive proteomics and glycomics. This instrument is essential for advancing NIH-funded research that requires analysis of proteins, lipids, and glycans from extremely limited sample inputs, including single cells, laser-capture micro dissected brain regions, and immunoprecipitated material, where current technologies fall short. For over a decade, EGMIC has been a leading provider of advanced biophysical and molecular characterization services, supporting over 60 NIH-funded projects. The core offers expertise and access to mass spectrometry-based glycomic profiling, intact protein mass analysis, and top-down proteomics using technologies such as ion mobility and electron capture dissociation. The requested Ultra-2 system will extend the core’s instrumentation portfolio to include next-generation, Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry (TIMS), enabling precise analysis of protein isomers, post- translational modifications, and low-abundance proteoforms at levels 100–1000 times more sensitive than currently possible at Emory. A team of expert mass spectrometrists and structural biologists will lead to the integration of this technology. Drs. Roberts, Song, and Lasanajak will oversee operation, user training, method development, and data analysis support. The technical team is already trained on Bruker workflows and has demonstrated feasibility through successful pilot studies using Ultra-2 demo systems. These studies include zeptomole-level detection of amyloid-beta isoforms and low-input phosphoproteomics from postmortem human brain tissue. The Ultra-2 will immediately benefit from over 11 Major and 8 Minor NIH-funded users spanning neuroscience, immunology, oncology, virology, and systems biology. Use cases include discovery of cell-type specific biomarkers in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease human brain tissues (Roberts, Seyfried, Faundez), immunopeptidomes for therapeutic antigen discovery (Ahmed), proximity labeling and single-cell proteomics in viral pathogenesis & neuroscience (Michailidis, Weinshenker, Tomalka), and low-input phosphoproteomics from sorted immune populations (Gordon, Lee, Li, Paiardini). The instrument will be housed in a fully equipped and dedicated room in the Whitehead Biomedical Research Building on the Emory Atlanta Campus. Institutional support includes long-term space allocation, technical personnel funding, coverage of the service contract for five years beyond the warranty, and an operating subsidy. The Ultra-2 is not currently available at Emory or anywhere in Georgia, and its acquisition will fill a critical gap in analytical sensitivity and throughput. Advanced training workshops, data processing pipelines, and collaborative support will ensure broad adoption and impact. This instrument will accelerate the productivity of NIH-funded investigators, promote high-impact publications, and support new grant applications centered on cutting-edge molecular profiling technologies.
