Narrative
This proposal seeks funding of $25,999.00 for the purchase of a high-pressure liquid chromatograph with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC), two apple computers, and GraphPad Prism Software for the Biological Science Department. The HPLC-EC system will be in Dr. David Binninger’s research space (SC 223-224) in the Biological Sciences building. His overarching research goal is to understand how oxidative stress contributes to aging and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig’s disease). More specifically, my research requires the quantification of methionine, methionine sulfoxide, and monoamine neurotransmitters from protein samples isolated from Drosophila (fruit flies) that have mutations in the genes encoding methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr). This analysis requires access to an HPLC with electrochemical detection.
In the past three years, Dr. Binninger has graduated one Ph.D. student and six Masters students. During this time, six Biology Honors undergraduate students have participated in research in his lab. Two of these former undergraduate students are currently in PhD programs (U. Miami; Miami, FL and Princeton; Princeton, NJ) and the other four are in medical school (two students at University of Miami, Miami, FL; one at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL and one at the University of Florida; Gainesville, FL). Currently, there are three Master’s students, one Biology Honors undergraduate student and three additional undergraduate students are working in his lab. More broadly, the Biological Sciences department has more than 100 graduate (PhD and Masters) students. Typically, there are a total of 200 – 250 undergraduate students involved in research through Directed Independent Study (DIS) and the Biology Honors Program as well as programs supported by the QEP and OURI. The items requested in this proposal would be available for use by undergraduate and graduate students working with any of the biology faculty.
HPLC is essential for research in the fields of biochemistry, chemistry, biology, and biotechnology. Training in its use is a valuable marketable skill sought after by potential employers such as the Max Plank Institute of Florida, the Cleveland Clinic, Scripps Florida, Sancillio Co (a biopharmaceutical company) and the plethora of other companies in the emerging biotechnology industry in south Florida. Dr. Binninger’s lab and the shared core facilities in the Department of Biological Sciences are well equipped for experiments in biotechnology including PCR thermal cyclers, real-time PCR, nucleic acid and protein electrophoresis, digital imaging using chemiluminescence, walk-in growth chambers, a range of centrifuges, autoclaves, water purification, biosafety cabinets for tissue culture. However, HPLC is conspicuously absent. HPLC-EC is a new method of rapid analysis used to separate, identify, and quantify low levels of analytes in complex matrices while only requiring picogram amounts. No other instrument can analyze qualitatively and quantitatively over hundred thousand molecules within minutes. Additionally, no other instrument can successfully separate molecules that differ so closely in their molecular structure as well as quantify biogenic amines. Dr. Weissbach has kindly offered use of the HPLC in his lab, but it is on the Jupiter campus and lacking the instrumentation to perform electrochemical detection. In addition, the instrument is used heavily, and I would only have access when it is not being used by others. While well maintained, the instrument is well over a decade old and is frequently out-of-service while awaiting costly repairs. Availability of HPLC-EC in the biological sciences department on the Boca Raton campus would be a major addition to our research infrastructure and the only HPLC system on FAU campus capable of performing electrochemical detection. Two additional pieces of instrumentation that are critical for the research activity in Dr. Binninger's Lab, are the Drosophila Activity Monitor and a spectrophotometer capable of reading 96 samples at a time. This plate reader is the only one in the department available to all undergraduate and graduate students and is used on a regular basis. Both of the instruments listed require an Apple computer to operate, record, analyze and store data. The Apple computers in the lab are very old and OIT will not allow them to be connected to the network. In addition, they can no longer run the current operating system or the newest versions of the driver software.
Personnel Costs
There will be no personal costs associated with the requested equipment. The equipment will be installed and managed by existing personnel in conjunction with the College of Science IT staff. The cost of consumables for use with this equipment (basic laboratory supplies) including tubes, gloves, reagents, etc., will be provided by the faculty supervisors of the students utilizing the equipment.
