MSLIFE · Integrating high performance mass spectrometry tools with application in life science

Recent advances of biopolymer mass spectrometry - first highlighted by the Nobel Prize-awarded “soft ionization” methods - have opened new applications in life sciences, such as the identification of proteins from complex biological material (proteomics). A number of high performance mass spectrometry technologies and hyphenated separation methods have become amenable; however, their efficient exploration and integration in interdisciplinary biochemical and biomedical applications is still in the initial phase. In this project an effective exchange scheme of staff will be established between European laboratories of different application areas, and leading American Centers of high performance biopolymer mass spectrometry. Joint research projects through exchange of coworkers will focus on the determination of protein structures and pathophysiological structure modifications; the identification of the assembly and topology of large protein complexes; development and application of disease-related quantitative proteome analysis; characterization of protein conformations and misfolding/aggregating proteins; applications to elucidate protein-biopolymer interactions and molecular recognition structures using new tools of bioaffinity-mass spectrometry. The principal goals of this project are (i), to establish new technologies of mass spectrometry in important life science applications such as the identification of biomarkers for disease diagnostics; and (ii), to provide a basis, through exchange of coworkers, for the integration of mass spectrometry tools with biochemical and biomedical technologies. This project will contribute to (i), integrate interdisciplinary applications of biopolymer mass spectrometry in life sciences; (ii), enhance exchange and collaboration between European and North-American academic laboratories; (ii) the graduate and postgraduate education of young researchers in mass spectrometry in life sciences.