Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) equipment for plant metabolism and host-pathogen interactions.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) is a technique that allows separation and precise identification of a wide range of biologically-important molecules. The LC-MS will supplement gas chromatography-mass spectrometers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers housed in the School of Biosciences at Exeter University, to provide an analytical facility for biomolecules. The LC-MS will be used to support a wide range of research projects in the area of plant and microbial sciences. The projects to be supported and enabled include the following. 1. Investigations of the synthesis and function of vitamin C in plants and of the genetic control of metabolism. 2. The response of plants to fungal and bacterial pathogens: what kinds of chemical signals and defensive chemicals are involved in disease resistance. 3. Toxin production by pathogenic bacteria. 4. Algal metabolism: algae (phytoplankton) are important for photosynthesis and productivity in the oceans and are key in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Studies of algal metabolism in conjunction with new genome sequence information will provide new information on their response to climate change.

We propose to purchase a liquid-chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) system suitable for separation and identification of a range of metabolites and hormones. The proposed system is an Agilent 6510 quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer (QTOF) interfaced to liquid chromatograph capable of running rapid resolution (small particle size) columns. It will be used for small molecule (metabolite) identification (using MS/MS and exact mass from time flight) and metabolic profiling. An in-house LC-MS system is justified firstly by the large number of funded projects in the areas of host pathogen interactions and plant metabolism that can take immediate advantage of the equipment. Secondly, because many of the proposed uses are non-standard, a capacity for in-house method development is important. Examples of research projects that will use LC-MS are listed in the Objectives section.