Equipment
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Metabolomics allows both qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolites in biological samples.Such analytes display a high diversity in terms of physico-chemical properties and concentration/abundance. In this regard, mass spectrometry is at present the most relevant technique useful for metabolome investigations. The timsTOF Pro 2 available at Atlantis couples mass spectrometry to HPLC, paving the way to 4D-multiomic assessments, including targeted and untargeted metabolomic, lipidomic and proteomic analyses.
The machine consists of a spectrometer equipped with a Trapped Ion Mobility System (TIMS), which allows a high resolution in terms of ion mobility (R≥200) in a single pass of 350 ms mobility scan time and a reproducible assessment of the Collisional Cross Sections (CCS) with a SD ≤0.5% among the experiments. It is endowed with a high capacity dual TIMS Stacked Ring Ion Guide (SRIG), which enables the Parallel Accumulation and Serial Fragmentation (PASEF), resulting in an accurate and reproducible separation in ion mobility.
Bulk metabolomics analyses for apolar or semi-polar metabolites are currently available, utilising UHPLC with a C18 column followed by MS/MS. This service is accessible to members of the UniTo community at a fixed rate of €50 per sample. Access to and coordination of the analyses will be facilitated upon completion of the form below, after which you will be contacted from the Atlantis facility staff: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeR6NxZRdgAZyKym3wlBn8eP9PR9Nn9IsYS35N3vmCLFibTAQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=116880643793157530807
Spatial metabolomics and proteomics allow to analyze the distribution of a wide arrays of biomolecules (glycids, lipids, peptides and proteins) in biological tissues. The analysis is feasible on different type of samples, including fresh biopsies and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples that - after being mounted on conductive, laser-compatible Intelli-slides -can be stored in cohorts and acquired as a batch. The RapifleX® machine allows a semiquantitative analysis of metabolites or proteins of interests: after cutting the region of interest of your samples, metabolites and porteins van be easily quantified by the timsTOF Pro 2. Alternatively, the slides can be immunostained and subjected to optical, fluorescence or confocal analysis, to identify the specific populations within your samples that are enriched of the metabolites or peptides of interest.
The RapifleX® technology, based on MALDI-TOF equipped with a 10 kHz scanning smart beam 3D laser that allows the unique acquisition of true squared pixels, harnessing more tissue and increasing sensitivity, combines: high speed of acquisition (20 fold faster than other equivalent technologies); wide range of mass acquisition (up to m/z 8000) regardless the acquisition mode; versatility of applications in terms of types of samples and metabolites detected; smart analysis through the user-friendly SCiLS™ Lab software; operativity 24/7.
The presence of RapiFlex and timsTOF Pro 2 made Atlantis a unique center for both qualitative and quantitative metabolomics and proteomics.
Thermo Scientific Vanquish Horizon UHPLC system
SAMPLE INLET SYSTEM (UHPLC, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography)
- Binary UHPLC pump with flow rates of 1 μL/min – 5 mL/min
- Split loop autosampler for injection volumes of 0.001 – 1000 μL
- T controlled column compartment (5-120°C) with post column cooler
- T controlled sample compartment (4-40°C)
- System P up to 1500 bar
- Compatibility with pH range 2-12
Tribrid Mass Spectrometer (Orbitrap IQ-X, Thermo Scientific)
MASS SPECTROMETRY
- Ion Source: HESI
- Analyzers: Quadrupole – Orbitrap (HRMS) – Linear ion trap
- Detector: Orbitrap (HRMS) – Linear ion trap
- Max Resolution: 500,000 (FWHM at m/z 200)
- Dissociation Technique: CID, HCD
- Mass Accuracy: 3 ppm with external calibration; < 1 ppm with internal calibration
- Mass range: m/z 50-2000 in full mass; m/z 40-2000 in MSn
INFO & CONTACTS
- For info and analysis request contact: orbitrap.chimica@unito.it.
- Other contacts: rosangela.santalucia@unito.it, marco.pazzi@unito.it, marco.vincenti@unito.it.
- For the purchase of analyses: please contact the instrument manager at orbitrap.chimica@unito.it to agree on type and cost of analyses.
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory services price list
- the TimsTOF Pro 2: Bulk metabolomics analyses for apolar or semi-polar metabolites are currently available, utilising UHPLC with a C18 column followed by MS/MS. This service is accessible to members of the UniTo community at a fixed rate of €50 per sample. Access to and coordination of the analyses will be facilitated upon completion of the form below, after which you will be contacted from the Atlantis facility staff: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeR6NxZRdgAZyKym3wlBn8eP9PR9Nn9IsYS35N3vmCLFibTAQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=116880643793157530807