Services
The Proteomics & Metabolomics Core provides quality analytical and bioinformatics services to help address your research questions. Our core comprises the most advanced instrumentation currently available in the fields of mass spectrometry and quantitative immunoassays.
Our 7 service areas include label-free, data dependent (DDA-MS) and data independent acquisition-mass spectrometry (DIA-MS), targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and paralleled reaction monitoring (PRM) mass spectrometry for proteomics, targeted MRM for metabolomics, small molecule or lipid-based analytes, as well as extended bioinformatic support services.
Our diverse staff expertise and the most advanced and specialized instrumentation empowers new assay development. The Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute (ACBRI) is continuously involved in multiple new assay development projects. Contact us today to find out more or to become part our next development project.
A targeted MS-based analyses of up to 219 polar small molecule metabolites predominantly pertaining to central carbon chain metabolism.
Changes in the levels of specific metabolites in the plasma have been linked to chronic diseases, lifestyle, age and/or sex. Metabolomic analyses are performed using a dedicated triple quadrupole LC/MS (Agilent) instrument capable of precise, reproducible, and quantitative analysis of up to 219 polar small molecule metabolites predominantly pertaining to central carbon chain metabolism.
Targeted MS-based Lipidomics analyses of 1153 lipid species from 13 different lipid classes.
Our lipid analyses provide a profile encompassing 1153 lipid species from 13 different lipid classes including quantitative information of more than 500 different triacylglycerol (TAG) species, 26 cholesterol esters (CE), and many more species from various lipid classes.
The Lipidyzer (Sciex), a QTRAP mass spectrometer equipped with Differential Mobility Spectrometry (DMS), which functions to separate isobaric lipid species, critical to the depth of the lipid assay and proper analyte specific quantitation. This assay has been used by the Core on plasma, serum, cells, tissue and isolated exosomes. The standards used for quantitation are based on lipid classes, to which each analyte is specifically normalized.
Our solutions for discovery proteomics encompass high sensitivity immunoassays to a diversity of Mass-Spectrometry-based workflows.
We perform:
Protein identification, quantitation and post-translational modification analyses using one of several analytical platforms tailored to your research question
Label-free peptide quantitation using Data Dependent or Data Independent Acquisition methods
MS-based analysis of post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, acetylation, citrullination, methylation, and several others
Our Core also houses cutting-edge immunoassay platforms, some of which may be suitable for discovery workflows.
Short list of discovery-based proteomic assays:
- Differential protein comparisons of whole or subproteomes
- Quantitative proteomic comparison and fold change analyzes
- Multiplexed (up to 11plex) quantitative TMT-labeled peptide comparisons
- Protein interactions/binding partners
- Protein gel band identifications
- Protein variants and proteoforms
- Protein modifications, co- and posttranslational modifications
- Phosphorylation
- Methylation
- Acetylation
- Citrullination
- Palmitoylation
- Redox S-nitrosylation
- Redox status by cysteine modifications
We offer extensively developed and tested MRM and PRM based workflows for a list of specific protein/peptide targets and assay development for new targets of interest.
Members of our core have extensive experience running and developing targeted proteomic assays with strict assessments of data quality, including coefficient of variation and matrix dependent determinations of the lower limit of quantitation. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), sometimes referred to as selective reaction monitoring (SRM), is a mass spectrometry method that can target selective peptides for the detection and quantitation of a protein. Single protein or multiplex assays are available.
Rigorously established single or multiplexed immunoassays are available for an extensive list of analyte targets; assay development services are available for new target analytes.
State-of-the-art enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantification for protein quantification is provided using one of two ELISA platforms:
- Ultra-sensitive digital ELISA, SIMOA HD-1 Analyzer
- High-performance electrochemiluminescence ELISA platform, MESO QuickPlex SQ 12.
The MESO QuickPlex SQ 12 provides ease of multiplexing, ability to mount new analytes, large dynamic range and industry-leading sensitivity making it an excellent option for many studies. Quanterix is a newer ELISA platform; their Simoa™ HD-1 Analyzer can achieve single molecule detection, representing a leap in sensitivity for most assays compared with traditional antibody-based analyses. As a result, Quanterix technology is the most sensitive ELISA-type assay platform currently available.
The Core assists in study design and choice of existing commercial single and multiplex ELISA assays and/or in assay development to a new target analyte. ELISAs can be used to quantify one or more proteins simultaneously in serum, plasma and other body fluids, as well as in cell and tissue lysates. The Core also carries out aliquoting, processing samples, running samples and analyzing and reporting data. All assays are run in duplicate. Quality controls embedded in the method ensure that all assays are repeated if samples exceed a coefficient variant percentage (%CV) greater than 20%.
The MitoPlex combines quantitative protein and metabolite data. The protein assay and small molecule metabolite assays are performed on SCIEX QTRAP 6500 and Agilent Triple Quad Mass Spectrometers, respectively. Data from targeted MS-based analyses of up to 219 polar small molecule metabolites predominantly, pertaining to central carbon chain metabolism, are combined with up to 30 proteins involved in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation pathways.
We also develop characterization of synthetic compounds and androgen quantification.
Getting Started
Submit a project request to get started. We will reach out to schedule a consultation, as needed, and then send you a quote and sample submission form to get your project off the ground.
Have Questions or Need Help?
Contact us if you have questions or would like to learn more about the Proteomics & Metabolomics Core at Cedars-Sinai.