Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics

Since 2004, the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Group has formed the core of the Netherlands Proteomics Centre (NPC) a strategic collaboration of proteomics research groups throughout the Netherlands. At Utrecht University, access is provided for large scale proteomics experiments as well as native MS for structural analysis of proteins and protein complexes. Access is provided to 20 state-of-the-art high resolution mass spectrometers, including 6 Orbitraps (of which 4 Exactive and Q-Exactive Orbitraps) and 7 Q-ToF mass spectrometers. Starting 2014, the NPC provides access through the NWO Roadmap project Proteins At Work.

Links with other infrastructures

The facility has links with EU ESFRI project Instruct (in which the Bijvoet Center, together with the NKI and Leiden University forms the Dutch access node) and the site coordinates the PRIME-XS project, a consortium that provides access to leading proteomics facilities and research groups in Europe, funded by the European Union in 2011.

Available technologies

The facility houses an excellent array of state-of-the-art mass spectrometers (Orbitrap, Q-ToF’s, MALDI ToF-ToF, ion trap, ESI-ToF), combined with extensive protein and peptide separation methods (2D-gel, DiGE, HPLC, nano-HPLC, chip-based ESI, chip-based LC, SPR, LC-MALDI, scanners) and focuses on the development of innovative proteomics techniques to improve protein expression quantification, the analysis of membrane proteins, protein post-translational modifications, protein network and alternative protein and peptide separation methods. In addition, the group has a world-renown expertise in Native Mass Spectrometry (Native MS), an analytical technique that allows the mass spectrometric analysis of intact proteins and protein complexes under their native folded state providing a wide range of information,such as structural information, complex stoichiometry and sample composition and purity. The key feature that makes native MS unique is the retention of molecular non-covalent interactions during the ionization process and the subsequent mass analysis.

The facility has a dedicated service unit (Ablab) that provides commercial access to state of the art native mass spectrometry (MS) services. .

For more information, procedures for access to the facility and for contact details, please visit the website of the Netherlands Proteomics Centre.