Proteomics and Metabolomics Lab

Proteomics Lab

The Proteomics Laboratory at UMBI is equipped with state of the art instrumentation, which allow us to conduct and provide various proteomics analysis such as separation, identification, characterization and quantification of proteins expressed in biological samples. The main goal for establishing the proteomics lab was to facilitate research in cancer biomarker discovery research as well as other biomarker-based research for other diseases and also applications for cutting edge research.

Mass Spectrometers

AB SCIEX TripleTOF 5600 System

The AB SCIEX TripleTOF 5600 system is a hybrid triple quadrupole TOF instrument that combines high sensitivity, fast scan speed, accurate mass and high-resolution performance. The system enables comprehensive qualitative exploration, rapid profiling, and high-resolution quantitation workflows on a single platform.

Applications:

• Data dependent LC/MS/MS analysis
• Data independent SWATH acquisition
• Protein and peptide identification and quantification
• Profiling and biomarker discovery/validation

Bruker UltrafleXtreme System

Bruker UltrafleXtreme system is a MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer with high resolution and mass accuracy that is an ideal tool for a wide range of applications ranging from protein/peptide sequencing using bottom-up and top-down approaches for proteomics analysis to tissue molecular imaging experiments for a variety of biomolecules.

Applications:

• Peptide mass fingerprinting
• Protein identification and quantitative analysis
• Post-translational modification analysis
• MALDI imaging

Other facilities include 2D Gel and 2-DIGE Gel apparatus,2D gel spot picker (Ettan™ Spot Picker), ELISA, and Western blot apparatus. The laboratory is also in the BIONEXUS Partners (BNP) Program of the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation.

Metabolic Lab

The core equipments in the Metabolic Laboratory are the HPLC and UPLC systems, both installed with Diode Array (DAD) and Fluorescence (FLR) detectors. The HPLC system offers high resolution and sensitivity by providing full power of multiple wavelength detection and spectral information by DAD and FLR. The UPLC is usually used for its higher throughput and productivity than the HPLC. It is up to nine times faster, has up to twice the peak resolution, and is up to three times more sensitive than traditional HPLC. Both systems have built-in GLP/GMO compliance features including automated wavelength verification, tracking of system performance and maintenance.

The lab is also equipped with TurboVap Caliper Nitrogen Evaporator, UV-VIS spectrophotometer (PG Instrument), Microplate readers Biotek EL800, Fluorescence detection system (Thermo Varioskan Flash Microplate Reader), Microplate reader with luminescence detection system (Molecular Devices SpectraMax Luminometer).

This lab is mainly supported by The Malaysian Cohort (TMC) project. The lab was established to support various validation studies under TMC. Various methods have been developed and validated including the analysis of urine cotinine, erythrocyte thiopurine methyltransferase enzyme, plasma malondialdehyde and carotenoids.

Besides being used for our own in-house research projects, we welcome service enquiries from the industry or researchers outside UKM.