Developing A Single-Neuron Protein Mass Analyzer

Proteins are the workhorses of life on a molecular scale. They drive communications between cells and regulate biological functions. Understanding which cells produce what proteins within a living organism would provide an unprecedented window into how biological systems function. After four years of development, UMD Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Peter Nemes has produced the first instrument sensitive enough to identify and measure the protein produced by a single neuron.