News

Proteomics Research & Course Updates

Please join us for a weekly online series of proteomics presentations/journal club to hear about recent proteomics research at the facility or around Texas and learn more about new techniques. Contact pmaf@austin.utexas.edu to get the Zoom link.

We are taking a break from proteomics to talk about pandemic! We will have an informal group discussion of COVID-19 disease with Dean Brent Iverson giving an insider view on May 7 at 4 pm. Learn more about coronavirus and COVID-19 from Nature and Science. The following week will be Dr. Elyssia Gallagher from Baylor University speaking on “Pushing the boundaries of H/D exchange-mass spectrometry to analyze glycans” on May 14 at 3:30 pm.

CH N190/N153K, Mass Spectrometry for Chemists, will be taught this summer by Dr. Ian Riddington, Director of the Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Facility.

Course Description: Mass Spectrometry is an incredibly powerful analytical technique. It has a multitude of applications from measuring contaminants in drinking water, to detecting post translational modifications in proteins. Being such a huge field though, it can be overwhelming, especially as many students have never taken a mass spec class.

This course is aimed at the Chemist/Biologist/Engineer that is using Mass Spectrometry in the course of their research. The overall aim is to bring together many seemingly unrelated areas of chemistry, in a way that will enhance understanding. That in turn will allow students to obtain maximum benefits from the instrumentation available at UT Austin.

Colony Management: Genotyping Assistance During and After the COVID-19 Crisis

To help researchers manage their mouse and rat colonies, the MGEF oversees the Transnetyx TAGCenter kiosk located in the ARC Annex near the second-floor break area. Transnetyx offers automated genotyping with a reported accuracy of 99.97% and results in 24 or 72 hours. Free supplies are located at the TAGCenter.

To use the TAGCenter:

  • Collect your tail snips or ear punches in the 96-well plate
  • Scan your MyTAG badge and your well plate’s barcode at the TAGCenter
  • Deposit your well plate in the kiosk pass-through slot
  • View the drop-off time and the results time
  • Receive an email from Transnetyx when your printable, exportable samples results are available in your secure, online account

The MGEF ships the deposited well plates on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 3 pm.

Restart Planning: Rapid Expansion of Transgenic Lines by IVF Speed Expansion

To avoid lengthy delays in expanding mouse colonies by traditional breeding, the MGEF can perform IVF to generate large numbers of cohort mice rapidly. The advantages of IVF are:

  • Requires only two breeder males or previously cryopreserved sperm
  • Produces a large number of same-age mice
  • Uses oocyte donors from commercial vendors
  • Saves months in breeding time

Contact Bill Shawlot for more information.