OVERVIEW

The mission of the Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics is to provide mass spectrometry-based protein, metabolomic and lipidomic technologies to St. Jude researchers including simple protein characterization, posttranslational modification analysis, comprehensive (phospho)proteome analysis, metabolite and lipid profiling. The interplay of technologies within the same group makes the center highly adaptable to take on any project. Extensive consultation is provided for experimental design, sample preparation, and MS data acquisition and interpretation. The Center has over 2200 square feet of space dedicated for research and instrumentation, and is supported by 13 full time employees.

Biorepository Overview
Biorepository Overview

IMPACT

The Center enables investigators at St Jude to explore all areas of protein and metabolite research.  The Center is constantly evolving and offering new services to adapt to the changing needs of its users.  Because of the extensive research and development activities, including 4 dedicated bioinformaticians building software, there is no need to wait for commercial protocols and solutions to be created. This facilitates access to techniques and data that don’t exist elsewhere. 

graphic depicting quote marks

Proteomics has been a really important core for us. They will meet with trainees to make sure the experiments are set up correctly. If there are new techniques that could be used to address the questions, they bring those on. It’s so great to have these resources in house.

Mondira Kundu, Member

Services and technologies

  • Intact Mass Measurement – analyze the intact mass of highly purified proteins
  • Protein ID by (Rapid) LC-MS/MS analysis – determine the identity of abundant proteins from gel bands
  • Posttranslational modification analysis – analyze protein posttranslational modifications on highly purified proteins
  • Proteome profiling by spectral counting, SILAC or TMT – identify and quantify proteins of varying abundance
  • Phosphoproteome profiling by SILAC or TMT – identify and quantify phosphoproteins
  • Metabolome profiling by LC-MS/MS -  unbiased label free method to identify and quantify metabolites
  • Lipidome profiling by LC-MS/MS -  unbiased label free method to identify and quantify lipids
  • Custom MS Analysis and additional bioinformatic analysis
  • JUMP – all mass spectrometry raw data are processed by our sophisticated in-house JUMP software suite

Instrumentation

  • One Waters LCT LC-TOF MS for routine intact mass measurement of highly purified proteins
  • Two Thermo LTQ Orbitrap Elite MS instruments for highly sensitive proteomics studies
  • Three Thermo Q Exactive HF MS for proteomics and metabolomics analysis of ultrahigh sensitivity and throughput
  • One Thermo Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid MS for proteomics analysis of ultrahigh sensitivity and throughput
  • One Thermo Q Exactive 480 Exploris MS for proteomics and metabolomics analysis of ultrahigh sensitivity and throughput

By the numbers: 

139

investigator collaborations

25

department collaborations

120

peer-reviewed publication contributions

Director

Junmin Peng

Junmin Peng, PhD

Director, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics
junmin.peng@stjude.org

BIOGRAPHY >