Instrumentation

Thermo TSQ 9000 GC-MS

The Thermo TSQ mass spectrometer is triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with a Trace 1310 gas chromatograph (GC). The TSQ GC-MS is routinely run in electron ionization (EI) mode, but also has chemical ionization (CI) capabilities. The autosampler included with this instrument is capable of performing automated derivatization reactions prior to sample injection. The TSQ GC-MS is used in selected ion monitoring (SRM) mode for increased sensitivity and specificity in confirmation of metabolites. Specialized software is used to compare relative metabolite abundances between samples.

Thermo ISQ LT GC-MS

The ISQ LT GC-MS is a single quadrupole mass spectrometer with a Trace 1310 GC. This GC-MS has both electron ionization and chemical ionization capabilities. This GC-MS also has the same autosampler enhanced capabilities as the TSQ GC-MS. It is mainly utilized for isotope tracer studies.

2 X Thermo Q Exactive LC-MS

Both Thermo Q Exactive LC systems are hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer interfaced with a Vanquish UHPLC system. This mass spectrometer is a high resolution/mass accuracy Orbitrap mass spectrometer with maximum resolving power of 140,000 or mass accuracy <1 ppm with internal standard. The Vanquish is a liquid chromatograph which is capable of ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). The UHPLC system includes a binary solvent pump, column heater, and autosampler. The QE-LC is capable of performing tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments, which provides options for qualitative and quantitative applications. It is used for lipidomics redox species, coenzymes, and other metabolites not amenable with GC-MS methods.