| NSF Org: |
CHE Division Of Chemistry |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 8, 2018 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 8, 2018 |
| Award Number: | 1828059 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Amanda Haes
CHE Division Of Chemistry MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Start Date: | August 15, 2018 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2021 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $450,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $450,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1600 HAMPTON ST COLUMBIA SC US 29208-3403 (803)777-7093 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
631 Sumter St Columbia SC US 29208-0001 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Chemical Instrumentation |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation programs. Professor Ken Shimizu from University of South Carolina Columbia and colleagues Qian Wang, Michael Walla, Thomas Makris and Norma Frizzell have acquired a high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HR-Q-ToF-MS) equipped with a series of attachments. In general, mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the key analytical methods used to identify and characterize small quantities of chemical species embedded in complex matrices. In a typical experiment, the components flow into a mass spectrometer where they are ionized into the parent ion and its fragment ions and their masses are measured. This highly sensitive technique allows detection and determination of the structure of molecules in a complex mixture. An instrument with a liquid chromatograph provides additional structural identification power by separating mixtures of compounds before they reach the mass spectrometer. In a quadrupole mass analyzer, there are four cylindrical rods parallel to each other which are responsible for filtering sample ions, based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Ions are separated based on the stability of their trajectories in the oscillating electric fields applied to the rods. The acquisition strengthens the research infrastructure at the University and regional area. The instrument broadens participation by involving diverse students in research and research training using this modern analytical technique. It provides training opportunities to faculty and students from neighboring Historically Black College Universities (HBCUs) such as Benedict College, South Carolina State University, and Claflin University. The instrument supports partnerships with many local companies and government agencies.
The proposal is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. It is especially useful for the characterization of compounds obtained by selectively functionalizing carbon-hydrogen bonds of natural products, and for exploring protein assembly, bioconjugation chemistry, and biomaterials sciences. The instrument is essential for studying protein succination and non-enzymatic chemical modification of protein thiol residues, and for studying the impacts of wastewater reuse, hydraulic fracturing, and coal-fired power plant discharges on drinking water. The mass spectrometer is used for the identification of mechanisms needed to maintain adequate intracellular levels of the essential metal iron and mitochondrial control of thiol-disulfide redox balance. The instrument is also used to determine plants response to environmental stress, for understanding connections amongst neurons, and deciphering the molecular pathways regulating cytoplasmic dynein, a cytoskeletal motor protein that move along microtubules in cells.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
With the support of the NSF MRI program, a Thermo Q-Exactive-HF mass spectrometer system has been purchased and installed at the multi-user Mass Spectrometry Center (MSC) at the University of South Carolina (UofSC). The Thermo Q-Exactive is a tandem mass spectrometer with two mass analyzers: the first analyzer is a quadrupole, and the second analyzer is a high resolution Orbitrap. We completed the renovation of the designated lab to house this instrument in 2019. The Q-Exactive mass spectrometer has been installed in the new lab space within the MSC of UofSC and the staff members of the MSC were trained to operate this instrument in January 2020. Since February 2020, more than 20 research groups have been assisted in running samples using this instrument.
Intellectual merit: Dozens of research projects have benefited from the acquisition of this Q-Exactive-HF mass spectrometer system. The users include investigators from four different colleges, who have expertise in diverse fields: enzymology, biomaterials, metabolomics and proteomics, environmental science, bioinorganic chemistry, microbiology, plant genetics and development, neurobiology, cell biology, and tissue engineering. The current user group consists of established, senior investigators with well-funded programs, as well as junior faculty members who greatly benefit from the instrument for their career development.
The Q-Exactive fulfills both the requirements of a diverse user base by offering more sensitive detection of analytes for quantitative studies and high resolution for accurate characterization. The combined high sensitivity and high resolution of the Q-Exactive-HF allow new lines of experimentation and methodology development that have not been previously possible at UofSC. The acquisition particularly benefits users who wish to analyze low abundance peptides and post-translationally modified peptides, or to perform trace quantitative analysis at lower levels and in more complex matrices.
Broader Impact:
The UofSC MSC has been instrumental in providing research and educational support to numerous faculty, students, and industrial partners for several decades. The MSC is the only core mass spectrometry facility on campus and not only provides various services to investigators, but also plays an active role in training and education. Acquisition of the new Q-Exactive-HF instrument further strengthens the teaching capabilities at UofSC and state-wide. For example, the MSC continuously supports laboratory modules in several classes, including CHEM 321/322 (an undergraduate quantitative analysis course), CHEM 621 (an undergraduate instrumentation course), and CHEM 729 (a graduate level Mass Spectrometry course). This new instrument has been added to above teaching activities.
In addition, the user base of the MSC includes a large number of minority students from UofSC and from neighboring HBCUs. The MSC encourages users from different underrepresented groups and actively supports their education through training opportunities offered at UofSC. For example, the MSC actively supports the ACS SEED Program, which is specifically oriented to minority students, and the SC-AMP program, a program to recruit minority undergraduate students from UofSC and Midlands Tech into an 8-10 week summer research program (10-15 students a year). In addition, the MSC is continuously working with faculty from Benedict College, SCSU, and Claflin University, which are all HBCUs, to support the research activities of minority undergraduate students. The acquisition of the proposed Q-Exactive further help us provide better support for these activities. Finally, the UofSC MSC has established very strong partnerships with a number of local companies and government agencies. All these collaborative projects benefit greatly and immediately from the increased sensitivity and high resolution, accurate mass capabilities of the Q-Exactive.
Last Modified: 09/20/2021
Modified by: Qian Wang
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