Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) equipment for plant metabolism and host-pathogen interactions.
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
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.
Technical Summary
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.
Publications
Bechtold U
(2016)
Time-Series Transcriptomics Reveals That AGAMOUS-LIKE22 Affects Primary Metabolism and Developmental Processes in Drought-Stressed Arabidopsis.
in The Plant cell
Bunbury F
(2020)
Responses of a Newly Evolved Auxotroph of Chlamydomonas to B12 Deprivation.
in Plant physiology
Bömer M
(2021)
Jasmonates induce Arabidopsis bioactivities selectively inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells through CDC6 and mTOR.
in The New phytologist
Chen M
(2014)
Maternal temperature history activates Flowering Locus T in fruits to control progeny dormancy according to time of year.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Cresswell J
(2014)
Clearance of ingested neonicotinoid pesticide (imidacloprid) in honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) and bumblebees ( Bombus terrestris ) Pesticide clearance by bees
in Pest Management Science
Cresswell J
(2012)
Differential sensitivity of honey bees and bumble bees to a dietary insecticide (imidacloprid)
in Zoology
De Torres Zabala M
(2016)
Novel JAZ co-operativity and unexpected JA dynamics underpin Arabidopsis defence responses to Pseudomonas syringae infection.
in The New phytologist
Goodey NA
(2015)
Aphids Pick Their Poison: Selective Sequestration of Plant Chemicals Affects Host Plant Use in a Specialist Herbivore.
in Journal of chemical ecology
Helliwell KE
(2018)
Quantitative proteomics of a B12 -dependent alga grown in coculture with bacteria reveals metabolic tradeoffs required for mutualism.
in The New phytologist
Helliwell KE
(2021)
Spatiotemporal patterns of intracellular Ca2+ signalling govern hypo-osmotic stress resilience in marine diatoms.
in The New phytologist
Howard TP
(2013)
Synthesis of customized petroleum-replica fuel molecules by targeted modification of free fatty acid pools in Escherichia coli.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
MacGregor DR
(2015)
Seed production temperature regulation of primary dormancy occurs through control of seed coat phenylpropanoid metabolism.
in The New phytologist
Page M
(2012)
The influence of ascorbate on anthocyanin accumulation during high light acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana: further evidence for redox control of anthocyanin synthesis.
in Plant, cell & environment
Perera V
(2011)
Aligning extracted LC-MS peak lists via density maximization
in Metabolomics
Salmon Deborah
(2011)
METABOLITE PROFILING INDICATES INTRASPECIFIC VARIABILITY IN THE ACCUMULATION OF COMPATIBLE SOLUTES IN THE HAPTOPHYTE ALGA
EMILIANIA HUXLEYI
in EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
Sambles CM
(2017)
Ash leaf metabolomes reveal differences between trees tolerant and susceptible to ash dieback disease.
in Scientific data
Sollars ES
(2017)
Genome sequence and genetic diversity of European ash trees.
in Nature
Sultana N
(2015)
Ascorbate deficiency influences the leaf cell wall glycoproteome in Arabidopsis thaliana.
in Plant, cell & environment
Wheeler Glen L.
(2015)
EVOLUTION OF ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS FOR VITAMIN C SYNTHESIS FOLLOWING PLASTID ACQUISITION
in EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
Description | The grant enable purchase of two mass spectrometers and associated equipment to establish a metabolomics and proteomics capability at Exeter University. The facility has enabled a wide range of research and successful research grant applications. |
Exploitation Route | The facility is available for use at Exeter and by external collaborators |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
URL | http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/facilities/spectrometry/ |
Description | BBSRC-NSF Photosynthesis |
Amount | £285,651 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/M011429/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | Decreasing the oxygenase activity of Rubisco: a synthetic biology approach |
Amount | £174 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/J004057/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2012 |
End | 07/2013 |
Description | Funding enabled by purchase of mass spectrometry equipment |
Amount | £375 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/G021678/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2009 |
End | 07/2012 |
Description | Seed coat compost ion and dormancy |
Amount | £365 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/L003198/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2013 |
End | 11/2014 |
Description | Research Seminar Royal Holloway College London Oct 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | n/a |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |