University of Arizona Core Facilities Highlights: Analytical & Biological Mass Spectrometry Facility
Question: What do blood samples, ancient mummies and moon dust have in common?
Answer: They have all been studied at the University of Arizona’s Analytical and Biological Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, where scientists use cutting-edge instruments to reveal the molecular composition of complex sample materials.
When scientists create a new compound or study an existing one, they need to understand exactly what they’re working with. A chemical compound’s behavior, safety or effectiveness can be greatly influenced by even minor changes, such as incorrect formulas or unintentional byproducts. Mass spectrometry is a technique that uses the mass-to-charge ratio of ionized molecules to enable scientists to measure even the tiniest quantities of a compound. This allows them to determine structures, identify molecular weights and detect impurities.
Krishna Parsawar and Robert Diaz, Scientific Analyst, reviewing data from a mass spectrometry sample.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
“This technology is incredibly versatile – an essential part of a researcher’s toolbox,” said Krishna Parsawar, director of the core facility. “Every new sample presents a challenge for us to solve, and every molecule has a story to tell.”
Because of its high sensitivity and precision, pharmaceutical chemists use mass spectrometry to test the metabolism and efficacies of new drugs. Newborns are screened for metabolic disorders from a single drop of blood. Forensic chemists in crime labs use it to test for trace chemicals found at crime scenes. Planetary scientists have analyzed materials found in space, including dust particles brought back from the moon. It is even used to test the chemical content of ancient artifacts to learn more about the past.
In each case, the goal is the same: to accurately identify and describe the molecules so the scientist can understand what the materials do and how they react.
The facility, located in the Thomas Keating Building at the BIO5 Institute, houses state-of-the-art instrumentation and employs a team of specialists who collaborate with scientists across campus and around the country, and across academic disciplines and industries.
Sample materials for mass spectrometry analysis.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
“For instance, we often work with researchers from the Cancer Center who are developing new ways to use drugs to target specific tumors or targets,” Parsawar said. “A researcher might come to us and say, ‘I’ve got this drug, and I want to see if it binds to a particular molecule or protein or antibody. Can you help me figure that out?’”
Even when researchers submit samples similar to ones analyzed before, Parsawar said, the questions are rarely the same.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with mummy samples twice,” Parsawar said. “Once with a sample from a museum in London and once with a sample from a researcher at the University of Arizona. In one case we analyzed a dye used on the mummy, and in the other we examined hair samples. Working with 5,000-year-old material was incredibly exciting.”
Like many core facilities supported by the Office of Research and Partnerships, the lab operates under an open, fee-for-service model that allows both academic researchers and outside clients to access specialized equipment and expertise.
“I have never had a day when I wondered what I should work on,” Parsawar said. “There is always an interesting research question waiting to be answered. Always a problem to solve.”
Researchers interested in working with the Analytical & Biological Mass Spectrometry Facility can learn more at https://cores.arizona.edu/facilities/massspec/about
