Project

Discipline

electrospray-ionisation; mass spectrometry; metallomics; proteomics; mechanistic studies

Lead
Lay summary
In the last few years, our group has studied and developed new anticancer drugs that contain are effective against primary tumours and metastasis where classical drugs such as cisplatin and other related drugs are ineffective. The biomolecular interactions of most drugs, from intravenous application to delivery to the cell and entry into specific organelles such as the nucleus, are largely unknown. This project aims to clarify the ambiguity surrounding these by mapping the protein-drug interactions that occur inside and outside the cell. The Electrospray Ionisation-Mass Spectrometer (ESI-MS) that we intend to purchase will become the central analytical tool that will allow us to investigate and delineate these processes. Thus, the equipment will be dedicated in the elucidation of the mode of action of drugs in complex biological systems.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 21.02.2013

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

Over the last decade, mass spectrometry has turned into an indispensable tool in metallomic and proteomic research. Especially electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) coupled online to separation systems such as liquid chromatography has become a major tool for the analysis of com-plex biological samples thanks to its capability to identify a large number of analytes within a single run. Consequently, the technique has also been widely employed in anticancer metallodrug research to characterize binding sites in biomolecules such as oligonucleotides and proteins even in real world samples, providing information on the mode of action of novel pharmaceuticals. Also other research areas in medicinal chemistry such as the elucidation of mechanisms enabling metal cations and met-allodrugs to pass the blood-brain-barrier, important for the future design of novel drugs, can profit greatly from data obtained by ESI-MS. Furthermore, it can help in obtaining essential information on the ecotoxicity of novel materials such as metal-based nanoparticles by analysing their fate upon interacting with microorganisms and bacteria.But ESI-MS does not only find application in biology-related research areas, it can also be applied to establish mechanistic level catalytic cycles for transition metal-based catalysts as used e.g. for the generation of hydrogen gas from formic acid to be used in environmental friendly fuel cells, making it a truly versatile tool in various areas of chemical research. Therefore, we apply for funding of a state-of-the-art ESI-MS instrument to extend ongoing projects and to initiate new research directions based on the profound experience in using this type of equipment at LCOM.