Date of Award

Fall 12-2011

Degree Type

Dissertation-Restricted

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Program

Chemistry

Department

Chemistry

Major Professor

Dr. Richard B. Cole

Second Advisor

Dr. Wendy M. Schluchter

Third Advisor

Dr. Bernard B. Rees

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Yang Cai

Fifth Advisor

Dr. Matthew A. Tarr

Abstract

Reported in this dissertation are the results of investigations performed at the New Orleans Center for Mass Spectrometry at the University of New Orleans. The projects that are detailed in the coming pages take on a variety of subjects, but a common thread is that each employs matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to solve a problem. Fundamental aspects of MALDI in-plume ionization are implicated in the introduction of a newly developed electron-transfer secondary ionization matrix. The remaining projects are related to the ever expanding field of proteomics. Mass spectrometry was used to investigate the site specificity of a newly developed bilin-lyase enzyme, a new approach was developed to distinguish between A-ring and D-ring attachment of bilins, and F. grandis protein expression pattern was investigated in several tissues. All obtained results were acquired using a MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometer. The sensitivity, mass accuracy, mass resolution and the ability to perform collision induced decomposition (CID) experiments were all valuable features that served to raise the quality of data, and thereby improved the detail of inferences to be drawn for the different projects.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

Download

Share

COinS