Proteome Exploration Laboratory

Tsui-Fen Chou – Faculty Director

The PEL is performing state-of-the-art research in mass spectrometry-based proteomics. We collaborate with California Institute of Technology scientists from various backgrounds (biology, chemistry, geosciences, engineering) as well as eternal researchers. By nature, the level of collaboration varies from project to project. However, to achieve the best results, we encourage you to contact us as early as possible to delineate the best avenues for a particular project.

The PEL provides both scientific and technical expertise and state-of-the-art high performance and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UHPLC) and tandem mass spectrometric instrumentation (LC MS/MS). PEL has several Easy-nLC systems, a Dionex U3000 UPLC, an Agilent 1100 HPLC, and a Vanquish UPLC that can be used for online and off-line fractionation.

The lab is currently equipped with three high-resolution accurate-mass Thermo instruments; an Orbitrap QExactive HF, an Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid equipped with additional dissociation capabilities (HCD, CID, and ETD); and an Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid with enhanced sensitivity, additional dissociation capabilities (HCD, CID, ETD, and UVPD), and FAIMS. The PEL also maintains a proteomics sample preparation laboratory for protein extraction, proteolytic digestion, and desalting. In addition, our bioinformatics suite utilizes the latest Proteome Discoverer from Thermo, the open-source search engines MaxQuant and Comet, along with various other community and in-house developed software tools and methods.

People

Prof. Tsui-Fen Chou

Faculty Director

  • 225 – Kerckhoff
  • Mail Code 156-29
  • tfchou@caltech.edu

Dr. Ting-Yu Wang

Staff Scientist

  • 224 – Beckman Institute
  • Ext 2792
  • tywang@caltech.edu