With the recent establishment of the Biological Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Shared Resource at the Geisel School of Medicine, investigators across Dartmouth’s research community will now have access to new tools and resources for studying the molecular components of the human cell.
Proteomics—the comprehensive analysis of protein expression and their interactions and modifications—utilizes mass spectrometry (a technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of molecules in a sample). This capability helps researchers to make disease diagnoses, identify new biomarkers and drug targets, and gain a deeper understanding of biological processes and the causes of diseases such as cancer.
Led by Anna Schmoker, PhD, a senior research scientist at Dartmouth Cancer Center, the new shared resource offers a range of quantitative and qualitative proteomics services, instrumentation, and expertise.
“Services are available to both Cancer Center members and non-Cancer Center members and can range from a small-scale study of a single peptide or protein up to the entire proteome of a cell or tissue—anyone studying protein-related biology, chemistry, engineering, or medicine could potentially benefit from our resource,” explains Schmoker, who is collaborating with faculty advisors Arminja Kettenbach, PhD, and Scott Gerber, PhD, on the new service.
Prior to joining Dartmouth last fall, Schmoker served as proteomics core director at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, where she provided mass spectrometry-based services to aid investigators studying targeted degradation protein degradation and drug-induced ubiquitin ligase interactions
“I learned a lot from my role at Dana Farber and am excited about expanding the focus of proteomics projects at Dartmouth and contributing to the great science that is going on here,” says Schmoker, whose main goal is to increase awareness of and core usership in proteomics across the institution.
Before Schmoker’s arrival, most researchers at Dartmouth sent their samples off to colleagues at proteomic cores of other institutions for analysis. “Being able to do proteomics in house gives our investigators access to another key piece of the molecular puzzle—as proteins carry out many of the functions within our cells,” says Fred Kolling, PhD, who directs both the Cancer Center Genomics Shared Resource and Single Cell Genomics Core within the Center for Quantitative Biology (CQB) at Geisel.
“Our goal is to make proteomics cost effective and efficient for all Dartmouth researchers and to build our expertise in this essential field. I think people are quickly realizing what a great resource we now have here on campus with Anna,” adds Kolling, who notes that discounted pricing is available through the end of June for folks starting out with the proteomics core.
Schmoker says the new shared resource will provide educational opportunities, as well. “Just as Dartmouth has done with its genomics core, I’ll be providing some training to students on how the process works and what’s involved, including basics of sample preparation and data analysis,” she says. “Any way you look at it, proteomics is a valuable tool to have in your tool box.”
See contact information for the new proteomics shared resource below:
Email: Anna.M.Schmoker@dartmouth.edu
Phone: 603-646-5573
Website link: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/msp/
Service requests and billing are done through RaDar: https://radar.dartmouth.edu/resources/Proteomics
