Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility – Michael Smith Laboratories and the Life Sciences Institute

The Proteomics Core Facility (PCF) offers a broad range of services, from mass confirmations to large-scale quantitative proteomic screens, along with all the associated bioinformatics. Basically, if it involves characterizing polypeptides, we can probably do it. Some of the services we provide most commonly include:

1. Measure the mass and identity of a protein or peptide you may have (e.g., to confirm successful synthesis of a peptide or the purity of a recombinant protein
2. Identify unknown bands from a gel
3. Characterize post-translational modifications on your favourite protein
4. Identify the protein interacting partners of a ligand
5. Measure global changes in protein levels or post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphoproteomics)
6. Monitor the global interaction landscape of cells

We will work with you to get us the best samples possible and then strive to get the best data on those samples back to you. Please feel free to contact us early in your planning process so that we can advise on how to best design your experiments. In addition, since some large-scale experiments can get quite expensive, we are open to co-applying for grants with you to fund such work. This could be done with the PCF itself as a co-applicant or with Dr. Leonard Foster, the PCF Director.

We have implemented a high-throughput system for accurate mass confirmation of purified recombinant proteins aimed at structural biologists or others who commonly have to check the mass of purified proteins by SDS-PAGE. Starting at $15/protein (volume discounts available) we can give you the precise mass of your proteins in as little as one-day turnaround.

We are also open to collaborative projects on a case-by-case basis. Staff in the PCF are available for project planning and sample preparation in addition to general mass spectrometry scientific advice and consulting on a walk-in basis.

Note: The Metabolomics facility is under development at the Life Sciences Institute