FAQs
Q: How much is your service?
A: Please contact us for a project-specific quote.
Q: I have never done an LC-MS experiment. Which previous knowledge is needed?
A: We provide expert advice and support for your project, including experimental design to optimally support your projects - so you do not need to know much about proteomics in advance.
Q: What amount of sample do I need for LC-MS analysis?
A: The exact amount of sample needed for proteomic analyses depends on the sample preparation procedure and type of analyses planned. For a label-free quantitative proteomics experiment typically 20 µg of total protein per sample are required. This amount corresponds to approximately 300,000 cells. For a phosphoproteomic analysis about 500 µg total protein per sample are needed. We also have optimized sample preparation workflows to analyse as little as 30,000 cells.
Q: How do I prepare my samples for LC-MS analysis?
A: This depends on the sample type and research question. We highly recommend to discuss your project with us in advance – this will also cover details on how to optimally prepare/store/transfer your samples.
Q: How samples are submitted and registered in the Core Facility?
A: You need to fill out a sample submission sheet. After discussing your project, we will provide you with the sheet or you directly download it here. After filling it out, please sent it back to us (see xxx). The information on the submission sheet allows us to track your samples, select the optimal sample processing workflow and subsequent analysis.
Q: Where should the samples be delivered?
A: You can either bring your samples directly to our lab, or send them to us by regular mail (address below).
Paul-Klein-Zentrum für Immunintervention
Core Facility für Massenspektrometrie
Gebäude 308A, 3. OG
Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz
If you bring the samples to us directly, please make an appointment with us. Please make sure that your samples are stored under appropriate conditions on the way to our lab (e.g. on dry ice).
Q: When can I expect my results back?
A: This depends on instrument availability and current sample load of the Core Facility. Samples are processed and analyzed on a first come-first serve basis. For a typical project, the work flow from submission to evaluated data will last approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
Q: How long will you keep my data files?
A: We store all acquired raw data and evaluation results on our servers for a minimum of 6 months and as backup on magnetic tape for a minimum of 10 years.