RCMI Proteomics Discovery Core Facility

Description of Facilities

The mission of the RCMI Clinical Proteomics Discovery Core Facility (CPDCF) is to significantly enhance the current capacity for research at University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC). The main goal is to provide an integrated proteomics platform for biomarker discovery and protein identification to interface between basic and clinical research conducted in Puerto Rico for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of human diseases. The establishment of this facility enables biomedical scientists in Puerto Rico to expand translational research areas and benefit patient care in the Hispanic community. Furthermore, this core facility provides resources and expertise in proteomics to scientists in other RCMI programs in Puerto Rico (UPR-Río Piedras, Ponce School of Medicine, and Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón) fostering multidisciplinary collaborations among these institutions. This novel CPDCF enhances retention of existing faculty, facilitate recruitment of young investigators, and build competitive teams to successfully compete for extramural funding. The CPDCF is a vital factor for the integration of basic and clinical research activities focusing on diseases affecting the Hispanic community towards the reduction of health disparities.

Proteomics is an emerging area of research that has been applied successfully to identify cellular biomarkers of disease progression. Tandem mass spectrometry with the LTQ XL MS/MS is an important component of the proteomics platform for the rapid discovery of multiple biomarkers and protein identification when used concurrently with technologies like 2D-DIGE, Ciphergen's ProteinChip ®, HPLC, FPLC, 1D- and 2D- electrophoresis. Statistics/Bioinformatics is also necessary to complement the proteomics platform that has been established at UPR-MSC in collaboration with experts at University of Nebraska Medical Center and additional centers.

The CPDCF is directed by Dr. Loyda Melendez and is located on the third floor of the Medical Science Campus, Room B-316. Dr. Juliana Perez Laspiur and Elaine Rodriguez, M.T. provide specialized technical advice to the users.

For more information please see the Unit Guideline.

• LTQ XL MS/MS - Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer System
• 2D-DIGE – Two-dimensional differential in gel electrophoresis
• Ciphergen SELDI-TOF - Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer system
• Biomek 2000 Laboratory Robotics System
• 1-D and 2-D gel electrophoresis apparatuses
• HPLC - High-performance liquid chromatography
• AKTA FPLC - Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography

• Protein screening and profiling
• Protein pre-fractionation
• Protein fingerprinting
• Protein identification and differential expression quantification
• Mass determination of proteins, peptides, oligonuclotides, glycolipids, carbohydrates and small molecule analysis

• Juliana Perez Laspiur, Ph.D.
  Research Associate
  UPR-Medical Sciences Campus
  Tel. 758-2525 x7029, 1316
  e-mailjuliana.perez1@upr.edu
• Elaine Rodríguez, MT
  Technical Specialist
  UPR-Medical Sciences Campus
  Tel. 758-2525 x7029, 1324
  e-mailelaine.rodriguez1@upr.edu

Director
UPR-Medical Sciences Campus
Telephone: (787) 758-6132
Telephone: (787) 758-2525 ext. 1324/2817
E-mail:loyda.melendez@upr.edu

Room B-316, B-317 
Third Floor, Main Building, 
Medical Sciences Campus