Please note nanoflow LC-MS is currently unavailable pending arrival of a new system.
The Q Exactive HF-X is reserved by email request. Turnaround times are typically 0-2 business days for direct injection or LC-MS experiments with under 8 hours run time (16-32 analytic flow samples, 3-6 nanoflow samples). Please allow up to one week for experiments requiring 24 hours or more LC-MS time.
Please go to the Science Center scheduler to make a reservation for other instruments.
MS Submission Instructions:
For routine sample submission please complete one of the attached forms for direct injection, targeted LC-MS, or untargeted LC-MS methods and return it by email. No form is needed at the method development or early investigational stage. If you are unsure of what to include for any fields these can be left blank. I will return a sequence list of all files produced for your experiment.
If you are regularly submitting larger LC-MS sequences it is a good idea to create a sample coding scheme (e.g. faculty initials and a four digit number) and a maintain a separate spreadsheet or other documentation with details about your samples so you can keep track of sample information.
The CMS provides 3D-printed autosampler trays that also function as freezer boxes at no cost to users. Additional boxes can be requested by email. Coding follows standard 54 well plate format with rows A-F and columns 1-9. The submission form sample positions must correspond the location of your samples in the submitted box. Please code samples to use the green tray (e.g. G:A1, G:F9). Please add a solvent blank in position G:F9 (the bottom right position) but do not include this in the submission form. Boxes can be picked up from the autosampler or fridge when your sequence is complete
Suggested sample concentrations for extracts from organisms for metabolomics are 1-10 mg/ml in water, an alcohol, acetonitrile, or a mixture thereof. For reaction products lower concentrations are preferable, 1 µg/ml – 1 mg/ml. If you expect your samples to contain nonvolatile salts, detergents, or PEG you should inform me by email.
Direct injection samples must be free of nonvolatile salts, detergents, and PEG. Please provide one ml of the solvent you used for preparation.
Proteins, oligonucleotides, or other biopolymers may be prepared in at 1-10 µM in an appropriate solvent (50% aqueous acetonitrile or methanol with 0.1% formic acid for positive mode or 0.1-1% of a basic buffer for negative mode works well). For initial testing of a new type of analyte or protein 250 µl should be provided but 100 µl may be provided after approximate tune values are known. You do not need to input any adduct information or m/z values for biopolymers, only the the approximate molecular mass.
For small molecules 250+ µl of a 0.1-100 µg/ml solution is a good starting point. Water, alcohols, ketones, acetonitrile, and mixtures thereof are preferred although others can be used. Ethers, THF, and DMF can not be used as they degrade PEEK tubing and components of the source. If you are unsure of what adducts will be produced please positive mode ions please provide expected M+H and M+Na m/z values, for negative mode provided M-H values. Additionally if your compound class is not well known please provide a structure or description.