Areas of Interest
The UAB Biomedical FT-ICR MS Laboratory takes advantage of the high resolution and high mass accuracy of Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to tackle a variety of biomedical problems. These projects are coordinated through three research laboratories at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The lab is under the direction of Dr. Matthew Renfrow and is a part of his research laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Additionally the research laboratories of Dr. Stephen Barnes (Professor, Department Pharmacology and Toxicology) and Dr. Peter Prevelige (Professor, Department of Microbiology) are direct members and users of the lab.
The projects in the lab fall into three main Areas of Interest:
The NCRR Shared Instrumentation grant for the purchase of the FT-ICR-MS instruments was awarded to support NIH-funded research.
Current approved projects involve:
- Assembly of viral capsid proteins (Peter Prevelige)
- UV light-induced singlet oxygen damage to lens proteins (Stephen Barnes)
- O-glycosylation in IgA nephropathy (Matt Renfrow/Jan Novak)
- Histone-transcription factor-DNA complexes (Matt Renfrow)
- Solution structure of hBAT and its mutants (Stephen Barnes)
- Reactive aldehydes and enzyme inactivation (Helen Kim/Stephen Barnes)
Investigators with federally funded projects for which a FT-ICR-MS approach would be essential should contact Dr. Matt Renfrow. Investigators should provide a written rationale for the purpose and scope of the work to be carried out on the FT-ICR-MS instruments. This will be evaluated by a faculty committee and appropriate training given as needed.