2002 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Shared by MS/NMR

” … Mass spectrometry is a very important analytical method used in practically all chemistry laboratories the world over. Previously only fairly small molecules could be identified, but John B. Fenn and Koichi Tanaka have developed methods that make it possible to analyse biological macromolecules as well.”

“In the method that John B. Fenn published in 1988, electrospray ionisation (ESI), charged droplets of protein solution are produced which shrink as the water evaporates. Eventually freely hovering protein ions remain. Their masses may be determined by setting them in motion and measuring their time of flight over a known distance. At the same time Koichi Tanaka introduced a different technique for causing the proteins to hover freely, soft laser desorption. A laserpulse hits the sample, which is √¢‚Ǩ≈ìblasted√¢‚Ǩ¬ù into small bits so that the molecules are released. ”

” … Through his work at the beginning of the 1980s Kurt W√ɬºthrich has made it possible to use NMR on proteins. He developed a general method of systematically assigning certain fixed points in the protein molecule, and also a principle for determining the distances between these. Using the distances, he was able to calculate the three-dimensional structure of the protein. The advantage of NMR is that proteins can be studied in solution, i.e. an environment similar to that in the living cell. … ”

ASMS Fall Workshop

Comparative and Functional Proteomics.

What Is It and How To Do It

November 7 – 8, 2002

Sheraton Hotel

Boston, Massachusetts

The deadline for registration is October 16.

For details, please visit the ASMS web site

www.asms.org

ACCOMMODATIONS: Rooms may be booked at the

Sheraton Hotel. Call (800) 325-3535. To obtain the

group rate of $175, mention ASMS. The deadline is

October 16.

Anniversary Symposium Liebig 2003

Bernhard Spengler is organizing a symposium on bioanaltical chemistry at Schloss Rauischholzhausen, May 12 Р15, 2003. Scheduled speakers include Rolf Apweiler, Charles Cantor, Franz Hillenkamp, Michael Karas, Bernhard Künstler, Wolf Lehmann, Matthias Mann, Ingo Potrykus, Detlev Riesner, and Marvin Vestal.

More information can be found at www.liebig2003.de, or if your German is rusty, you can try a translation.

WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT

“QUANTITATIVE SYNTHETIC POLYMER MASS SPECTROMETRY“

NOVEMBER 7-8, 2002

Hosted by:

Polymers Division

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD

Chairmen:

Scott D. Hanton     Air Products & Chemicals

William E. Wallace  NIST Polymers Division

Charles M. Guttman NIST Polymers Division



WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Industrial, academic, and government researchers and practitioners interested in the application of mass spectrometry to synthetic polymers and the fundamental aspects of recent developments in the quantitation of these results.

DESCRIPTION

Mass spectrometry is a rapidly evolving measurement technique for synthetic polymers.  It holds the promise of providing the absolute molecular mass distribution as well as quantitative end group, composition, and structural information.  To realize this promise presents challenges to researchers in all fields of polymer characterization.

This workshop will bring together researchers and practitioners from industry, academia, and government to present new results, discuss recent trends, and identify important problems in the area of quantitative mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers.  The format for the 1.5-day meeting will be 30-minute talks followed by informal discussion.  Talks will focus on methods of quantitation, including sample preparation, instrumental parameters, data analysis software, and analyte properties.  A special session will be held where workshop participants will be asked to present measurement problems they have encountered in their own work for comment and discussion by the other workshop participants.

Space is limited to 75 attendees.  Early registration is encouraged.  Pre-registration is required.  There is no on-site registration for this workshop.

REGISTRATION FEE $100

TO PRE-REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact William Wallace at 301-975-5886 or by email:  william.wallace@nist.gov

Or visit for online registration:  www.nist.gov/conferences

LIST OF SPEAKERS AS OF  8/12/2002

MALDI Sample Preparation РKevin Owens (Drexel)  

Dry Grinding MALDI Sample Prep – Sarah Trimpin (Oregon State)

Chromatography And MALDI – Franz Mayer-Posner (Bruker)

Laser Ablation (Modeling) РBarbara Garrison (PSU )  

Detector Technology  - Bruce Laprade (Burle Electr-Optc)

Data Handling – Tony Kearsley (NIST )

Truly Monodispersed Polymers РShinichi Kinugasa (NMIJ , Japan)  

Copolymers (Intact Molecules) – M. Mutaudo (Catania)

Copolymers (PSD ) – Tony Jackson (ICI )

 

End Groups – Chrys Wesdemiotis (Akron)