Barry L. Karger

Full Professor

140 The Fenway
Tel: 617.373.2867
Fax: 617.373.8795
b.karger@neu.edu
Dr. Karger's Research Website

James A. Waters Professor of Analytical Chemistry

Education:

1963 Ph.D., Cornell University
1960 B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests

Prof. Karger's research focuses on the development and application of microscale separations and MS analysis to problems of biological relevance. Current research involves (1) comprehensive characterization of complex proteins at the low fmole level using LC coupled to a hybrid linear ion trap – FT mass spectrometer; (2) ultra-narrow (5-20 µm i.d.) monolithic and porous layer open tubular columns for low attomole LC/MS proteomic analysis; (3) proteomic tissue analysis for disease biomarker discovery using 10,000 cells or less; and (4) multiplex LC coupled to MALDI-MS using a 2 kHz repetition rate laser.

Professor Karger’s research group collaborates with clinicians, microbiologists and fundamental cell biologists to apply the developed technologies. As an example, the group is interacting with an industrial group on the discovery and validation of biomarkers for low and high grade stained cells from Pap smears (cervical scrapings). In another example, they are collaborating with a microbiologist on the study of growth of anaerobic bacteria (Archaea). The discovery of overexpressed enzymes has led to an understanding of important pathways for energy conservation. In a third example, the group is studying the kinetics of phosphorylation of tyrosine kinase receptors (EGFR) upon signal stimulation in order to elucidate important signaling pathways in tumor cancer cells. In these and other examples, the technology in ultratrace LC/MS allows generation of information not readily obtained by current methodologies.

Selected Publications

Wang, D., Hincapie, M., Guergova-Kuras, M., Takacs, L. And Karger, B.L., "Antigen Identification and Characterization of Lung Cancer Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Produced by mAb Proteomics", J. of Proteome Research, 9 (4) 1834-1842, (2010).

Szabo, Z., Guttman, A. and Karger, B.L., "Rapid Release of N-Linked Glyans from Glycoproteins by Pressure Cycling Technology", Anal.Chem. ,82 (6) 2588-2593, (2010).

Szabo, Z., Guttman, A., Rejtar, T. and Karger, B.L., "Improved Sample Preparation Method for Glycan Analysis of Glycoproteins by CE-LIF and CE-MS", Electrophoresis, 31, 1389-1395, (2010).

Wu, S., Jiang, H., Hancock, W. Karger, B.L., "Identification of the Unpaired Cysteine Status and Complete Mapping of the 17 Disulfides of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Using LC-MS with Electron Transfer Dissociation/Collision Induced Dissociation", Anal. Chem., 15;82(12):5296-303, (2010).

Jiang, H.; Wu, S.; Karger,B.L.; Hancock, W.,"Characterization of the Glycosylation Occupancy and the Active Site in the Follow-on Protein Therapeutic: TNK-Tissue Plasminogen Activator", Anal. Chem.,15;82(14):6154-62., 2010.

Ni, W., Dai, S., Karger, B.L. and Zhou, Z., "Analysis of Isoaspartic Acid by Selective Proteolysis with Asp-N and Electron Transfer Dissociation Mass Spectrometry", Anal. Chem. , 82, 7485-7491, 2010.