NIH Proteome Special Interest Group

NIH LABS

Center for Biochemistry and Biophysics, NHLBI
Principal Investigator: Yoichiro Ito, M.D.
Dr. Ito developed countercurrent chromatography in 1970 at the NIH and chaired the Fourth International Conference on Countercurrent Chromatography which was held at the NIH in 2006. Dr. Ito continues to develop chromatographic methods such as Mixer-Settler Countercurrent Chromatography and Centrifugal Precipitation Chromatography. Countercurrent chromatography can be used for the separation of intact cells, glycoproteins, proteins, peptides, DNA, RNA and natural products. Dr. Ito has over 500 scientific publications including 47 US patents. One of his invention for a seal-free continuous-flow blood separator has been used in blood banks throughout the world. Dr. Ito collaborates with scientists throughout the world.

Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section, NIDA
Principal Investigator: Amina S. Woods, Ph.D.

Drug Mechanism Group, Biological Testing Branch, DTP, SAIC-Frederick, NCI
Head: Dianne L. Newton, Ph.D.
The Drug Mechanism Group (DMG) is responsible for determining the mechanism of action and identifying potential surrogate markers of drug activity for a select number of compounds slated for preclinical evaluation within the Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP). We utilize both transcriptomic- and proteomic- based platforms. Our proteomic techniques include SILAC analysis of subcellular organelles, identification of drug binding partners using affinity reagents (chemical proteomics), and a mini 2D PAGE format to analyze specific changes due to drug treatment. Validation is performed using diverse technologies including flow cytometry, Q-RT-PCR, western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, enzymatic and cell-based assays.

Instrumentation Research and Development Resource, OD
Chief: Paul Smith, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Applied Mass Spectrometry, NHLBI
Principal Investigator: Henry M. Fales, Ph.D.
The Laboratory of Applied Mass Spectrometry is concerned with using the method to study post-translational modification processes of proteins, particularly phosphorylation and glycosylation. Additionally, techniques are sought for chemical modification to improve sequence determination and peptide detection. Currently, equipment includes a Micromass QTOF, ThermoFinnigan Proteomex, two classic LCQs, an ABI DE-STR Maldi system and an Agilent OFFGEL apparatus.

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, NHLBI
Principal Investigator: Mark A Knepper, MD, PhD
The chief objective of the Knepper Lab is to discover the fundamental mechanisms involved in regulation of the transport of water, urea and ions by the kidney, and to discover how these regulatory processes are altered in various clinically important fluid and electrolyte disorders. A 'systems biology' approach is utilized. A wide variety of technical approaches are used including 1) in vitro perfusion of microdissected renal tubule segments to measure ion and water fluxes; 2) immunochemical approaches to assess the abundance, intracellular distribution, and post-translational modification of physiologically important transporters; 3) biochemical analysis of microdissected renal tubule segments; 4) knockout mouse models; and 5) mass-spectrometry based proteomics methods; 5) mathematical modeling of the kidney as a complex system. The lab heavily exploits the NHLBI Proteomics Core Facility for the mass spectrometry aspects of the studies. The major current areas of emphasis are: 1) discovery of the molecular mechanisms involved in controlling the water channel aquaporin-2 in the renal collecting duct; and 2) application of quantitative mass spectrometry to the discover of vasopressin signaling pathways in the renal collecting duct.

Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, NIMH
Principal Investigator: Sanford P. Markey, Ph.D.
The Laboratory of Neurotoxicology conducts research to determine the biochemical events that cause neuronal injury and degeneration accompanying genetic disease, inflammation, trauma, and exposure to neurotoxic substances. We emphasize research that utilizes qualitative and quantitative protein analyses to determine cellular responses to diseases and neurotoxins. We have developed methods for protein complex immuno-separation, in vitro synthesis of fluorescent and stable isotope labeled protein standards, and software programs to facilitate the interpretation of multiple data files from shotgun analyses, such as DBParser and MassSieve. Resources include LTQ-Orbitrap, ETD-LTQ, 2 LCQ Classic, and an ESI-Mariner instruments. LNT is implementing the Open Source Computational Proteomics Analysis System (CPAS).

Laboratory of Proteomics and Analytical Technologies, NCI
Principal Investigator: Timothy Veenstra, Ph.D.

Section on Mass Spectrometry and Metabolism, NICHD
Principal Investigator: Alfred Yergey, Ph.D.

Tumor Vaccines and Biotechnology Branch, FDA, CBER
Principal Investigator: Michail A. Alterman, Ph.D.
CBER evaluates cellular, tissue and gene therapy products that have the ability to regenerate, repair and cure genetic and acquired disorders. To accurately evaluate these 21st century products, state-of-the-art analytical tools are needed to assess product quality, safety, and efficacy. Biologic products are derived from living sources and represent mixtures of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and other biomolecules of enormous analytical complexity. The goal of our research is to develop and adapt mass-spectrometry-based and protein array-based proteomic techniques for qualitative and quantitative analytical testing of cells, cell-derived products and tissues. Proteomic characterization (profiling) of cell substrate, such as human embryonic kidney 293 cells, PICM-19 liver stem cell line, MRC-5 cells, and dendritic cells is being studied. The data obtained would contribute to the development of new analytical techniques aimed at the characterization of the product identity and potency. We explore the possible use of differential cytochrome P450 isozyme expression as biomarker of cancer development. Our research in this direction is based on experimental data showing that the expression profile of CYP isozymes in tumors differs from isozymes expression profile in the surrounding tissues.

Ultramicro Analytical Immunochemistry Resource, OD
Resource Chief: Terry M. Phillips, Ph.D., D.Sc

Training Opportunities

Research and Training Opportunities at the NIH

National Cancer Institute(NCI)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases(NIAID)

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)