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Don Douglas

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Research and Teaching Interests

The last few decades have seen dramatic growth of mass spectrometry into new application areas. Most notable among these have been the applications to biomolecules, particularly peptides and proteins. Research in this group centers on the development of new techniques in mass spectrometry and new instrumentation and for such applications.

Electrospray ionization sources can produce gas-phase ions of proteins at atmospheric pressure directly from proteins in solution. The ionization process is sufficiently gentle that proteins up to a molecular weight of at least 500,000 can be ionized. In many cases noncovalent complexes between proteins and other proteins, or between proteins and small molecules, can be observed in mass spectra. Little is known about the structure of these gas-phase ions or complexes. Research here is directed towards new methods and new instrumentation to study the structures of these ions and to determine the relationships of these structures, if any, to those of proteins in solution. Collision cross sections are measured to give an estimate of ion "size". Gas-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange is used to probe protein conformation, and tandem mass spectrometry is used to determine relative binding strengths of gas-phase noncovalent complexes. This work is done in collaboration with protein chemists in the Department of Chemistry and Department of Biochemistry at UBC.

Instrumentation for mass spectrometry continues to evolve rapidly. Work in this lab is directed towards developing improved linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometers. A linear quadrupole mass filter is operated at very low resolution and stopping potentials are applied to electrodes at the ends of the quadrupole. As a result, ions with a broad range of mass to charge ratios can be confined in the trap, manipulated, and then ejected in a mass selective manner to produce a mass spectrum. Current work is directed to understanding and reducing so called "space charge" effects in such traps. If too many ions are introduced to a trap, the Coulombic repulsion between the ions ("space charge") changes the character of the ion motion. The net result is changes of the apparent masses of ions and a loss of mass resolution in mass spectra. This work is sponsored through an NSERC-SCIEX Industrial Research Chair. As a result, there are opportunities for consultation and co-operation with researchers at AB SCIEX, a major manufacturer of mass spectrometers located near Toronto.

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Curriculum Vitae

B.Sc., McMaster University 1971; Ph.D., University of Toronto (J. C. Polanyi, 1976); Post Doctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley (C.B. Moore, 1976-1978); Senior and Principal Research Scientist, SCIEX, 1979-1994; Barringer Award of the Spectroscopy Society of Canada, 1988; Fisher Scientific Award of the CIC, 1997, Noranda Award of the CSC 2001, FCIC; Fred Lossing Award of the Canadian Society for Mass Spectrometry, 2001; UBC Killam Research Award, 2003; elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, 2007; NSERC-SCIEX Industrial Research Chair.

Publications

2014

Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. V. Mass Resolution Of Linear Quadrupole Ion Traps With Round Rods. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY 2014, 28, 2252-2258.
Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. V. Mass Selectivity Of Dipolar Resonant Excitation In A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY 2014, 28, 430-438.
Douglas, D. J. ; Polyakov, A. ; Konenkov, N. V. Quadrupolar Ion Excitation For Radiofrequency-Only Mass Filter Operation. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY 2014, 20, 207-214.

2013

Rajabi, K. ; Douglas, D. J. The Effect Of A Covalent And A Noncovalent Small-Molecule Inhibitor On The Structure Of Abg Beta-Glucosidase In The Gas Phase. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2013, 24, 907-916.
Gao, C. ; Douglas, D. J. Can The Effective Potential Of A Linear Quadrupole Be Extended To Values Of The Mathieu Parameter Q Up To 0.90?. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2013, 24, 1848-1852.

2012

Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. V. Ion Cloud Model For A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap. European Journal of Mass Spectrometry 2012, 18, 419-429.
Kang, Y. ; Terrier, P. ; Ding, C. ; Douglas, D. J. Solution And Gas-Phase H/d Exchange Of Protein Small-Molecule Complexes: Cex And Its Inhibitors. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2012, 23, 57-67.
Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. V. Trajectory Calculations Of Space-Charge Induced Mass Shifts In A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2012, 26, 2105-2114.

2011

Kang, Y. ; Douglas, D. J. Gas-Phase Ions Of Human Hemoglobin A, F, And S. Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2011, 22, 1187 - 1196.
Kang, Y. ; Terrier, P. ; Douglas, D. J. Mass Spectra And Ion Collision Cross Sections Of Hemoglobin. Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2011, 22, 290 - 299.
Gao, C. ; Mao, D. ; Konenkov, N. ; Douglas, D. J. Space Charge Effects With Mass Selective Axial Ejection From A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2011, 25, 3509-3520.

2010

Terrier, P. ; Douglas, D. J. Carbamino Group Formation With Peptides And Proteins Studied By Mass Spectrometry. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2010, 21, 1500 - 1505.
Zhao, X. Zhen; Xiao, Z. ; Douglas, D. J. Mass Analysis With Islands Of Stability With Linear Quadrupoles Incorporating Higher Order Multipole Fields. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2010, 21, 393 - 402.
Xiao, Z. ; Zhao, X. - Z. ; Douglas, D. J. Quadrupole Mass Filters With Added Hexapole Fields. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2010, 24, 1985 - 1992.

2009

Zhao, X. Z. ; Xiao, Z. L. ; Douglas, D. J. Overcoming Field Imperfections Of Quadrupole Mass Filters With Mass Analysis In Islands Of Stability. Analytical Chemistry 2009, 81, 5806-5811.
Douglas, D. J. Linear Quadrupoles In Mass Spectrometry. Mass Spectrometry Reviews 2009, 28, 937-960.
Wright, P. J. ; Douglas, D. J. Gas-Phase H/d Exchange And Collision Cross Sections Of Hemoglobin Monomers, Dimers, And Tetramers. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2009, 20, 484-495.

2008

Moradian, A. ; Douglas, D. J. Mass Selective Axial Ion Ejection From Linear Quadrupoles With Added Octopole Fields. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2008, 19, 270-280.
Wright, P. J. ; Zhang, J. M. ; Douglas, D. J. Conformations Of Gas-Phase Ions Of Ubiquitin, Cytochrome C, Apomyoglobin, And Beta-Lactoglobulin Produced From Two Different Solution Conformations. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2008, 19, 1906-1913.
Zhao, X. Z. ; Douglas, D. J. Dipole Excitation Of Ions In Linear Radio Frequency Quadrupole Ion Traps With Added Multipole Fields. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 2008, 275, 91-103.
Zhao, X. Z. ; Granot, O. ; Douglas, D. J. Quadrupole Excitation Of Ions In Linear Quadrupole Ion Traps With Added Octopole Fields. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2008, 19, 510-519.

2007

Konenkov, N. ; Zhao, X. Z. ; Xiao, Z. L. ; Douglas, D. J. Mass Analysis In Islands Of Stability With Linear Quadrupoles With Added Octopole Fields. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2007, 18, 826-834.
Tesic, M. ; Wicki, J. ; Poon, D. K. Y. ; Withers, S. G. ; Douglas, D. J. Gas Phase Noncovalent Protein Complexes That Retain Solution Binding Properties: Binding Of Xylobiose Inhibitors To The Beta-1,4 Exoglucanase From Cellulomonas Fimi. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2007, 18, 64-73.
Moradian, A. ; Douglas, D. J. Experimental Investigation Of Mass Analysis Using An Island Of Stability With A Quadrupole With 2.0% Added Octopole Field. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2007, 21, 3306-3310.

2006

Konenkov, N. ; Londry, F. ; Ding, C. F. ; Douglas, D. J. Linear Quadrupoles With Added Hexapole Fields. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2006, 17, 1063-1073.
Mark, K. J. ; Douglas, D. J. Coulomb Effects In Binding Of Heme In Gas-Phase Ions Of Myoglobin. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2006, 20, 111-117.

2005

Michaud, A. L. ; Frank, A. J. ; Ding, C. ; Zhao, X. Z. ; Douglas, D. J. Ion Excitation In A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap With An Added Octopole Field. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2005, 16, 835-849.
Douglas, D. J. ; Frank, A. J. ; Mao, D. M. Linear Ion Traps In Mass Spectrometry. Mass Spectrometry Reviews 2005, 24, 1-29.

2003

Mao, D. M. ; Babu, K. R. ; Chen, Y. L. ; Douglas, D. J. Conformations Of Gas-Phase Lysozyme Ions Produced From Two Different Solution Conformations. Analytical Chemistry 2003, 75, 1325-1330.
Mao, D. M. ; Douglas, D. J. H/d Exchange Of Gas Phase Bradykinin Ions In A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2003, 14, 85-94.
Sudakov, M. ; Douglas, D. J. Linear Quadrupoles With Added Octopole Fields. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2003, 17, 2290-2294.
Ding, C. F. ; Konenkov, N. V. ; Douglas, D. J. Quadrupole Mass Filters With Octopole Fields. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2003, 17, 2495-2502.

2002

Konenkov, N. V. ; Sudakov, M. ; Douglas, D. J. Matrix Methods For The Calculation Of Stability Diagrams In Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2002, 13, 597-613.
Mauk, M. R. ; Mauk, A. G. ; Chen, Y. L. ; Douglas, D. J. Tandem Mass Spectrometry Of Protein-Protein Complexes: Cytochrome C-Cytochrome B(5). Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2002, 13, 59-71.
S. Moussalami, A. ; Chen, W. ; Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. High Intensity Ion Beams From An Atmospheric Pressure Inductively Coupled Plasma. Review of Scientific Instruments 2002, 73, 884-886.
Moradian, A. ; Scalf, M. ; Westphall, M. S. ; Smith, L. M. ; Douglas, D. J. Collision Cross Sections Of Gas Phase Dna Ions. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 2002, 219, 161-170.
Mao, D. M. ; Ding, C. F. ; Douglas, D. J. Hydrogen/deuterium Exchange Of Myoglobin Ions In A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2002, 16, 1941-1945.
Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. V. Influence Of The 6Th And 10Th Spatial Harmonics On The Peak Shape Of A Quadrupole Mass Filter With Round Rods. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2002, 16, 1425-1431.
Konermann, L. ; Douglas, D. J. Pre-Steady-State Kinetics Of Enzymatic Reactions Studied By Electrospray Mass Spectrometry With On-Line Rapid-Mixing Techniques. In Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanism, Pt F: Detection and Characterization of Enzyme Reaction Intermediates; Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanism, Pt F: Detection and Characterization of Enzyme Reaction Intermediates; Academic Press Inc: San Diego, 2002; Vol. 354, pp. 50-64.

2001

Babu, K. R. ; Moradian, A. ; Douglas, D. J. The Methanol-Induced Conformational Transitions Of Beta-Lactoglobulin, Cytochrome C, And Ubiquitin At Low Ph: A Study By Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2001, 12, 317-328.
Witting, P. K. ; Douglas, D. J. ; Mauk, A. G. Reaction Of Human Myoglobin And Nitric Oxide - Heme Iron Or Protein Sulfhydryl (S) Nitrosation Dependence On The Absence Or Presence Of Oxygen. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2001, 276, 3991-3998.
Witting, P. K. ; Mauk, A. G. ; Douglas, D. J. ; Stocker, R. Reaction Of Human Myoglobin And Peroxynitrite: Characterizing Biomarkers For Myoglobin-Derived Oxidative Stress. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2001, 286, 352-356.
Collings, B. A. ; Campbell, J. M. ; Mao, D. M. ; Douglas, D. J. A Combined Linear Ion Trap Time-Of-Flight System With Improved Performance And Msn Capabilities. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2001, 15, 1777-1795.
Douglas, D. J. ; Collings, B. A. ; Numao, S. ; Nesatyy, V. J. Detection Of Noncovalent Complex Between Alpha-Amylase And Its Microbial Inhibitor Tendamistat By Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2001, 15, 89-96.
Schneider, B. S. ; Douglas, D. J. ; Chan, D. D. Y. Ion Fragmentation In An Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometer Interface With Different Gases. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2001, 15, 249-257.

2000

Chen, W. ; Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry With A Quadrupole Operated In The Fourth Stability Region. Analytical Chemistry 2000, 72, 540-545.
Du, Z. H. ; Douglas, D. J. ; Glebova, T. ; Konenkov, N. V. Peak Structure With A Quadrupole Mass Filter Operated In The Third Stability Region. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 2000, 197, 113-121.
Babu, K. R. ; Douglas, D. J. Methanol-Induced Conformations Of Myoglobin At Ph 4.0. Biochemistry 2000, 39, 14702-14710.
Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. Observation Of Higher Order Quadrupole Excitation Frequencies In A Linear Ion Trap. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2000, 11, 1016-1022.
Witting, P. K. ; Douglas, D. J. ; Mauk, A. G. Reaction Of Human Myoglobin And H2O2 - Involvement Of A Thiyl Radical Produced At Cysteine 110. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2000, 275, 20391-20398.

1999

Du, Z. H. ; Douglas, D. J. A Novel Tandem Quadrupole Mass Analyzer. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 1999, 10, 1053-1066.
Olney, T. N. ; Chen, W. ; Douglas, D. J. Gas Dynamics Of The Icp-Ms Interface: Impact Pressure Probe Measurements Of Gas Flow Profiles. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 1999, 14, 9-17.
Du, Z. H. ; Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. Peak Splitting With A Quadrupole Mass Filter Operated In The Second Stability Region. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 1999, 10, 1263-1270.
Du, Z. H. ; Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. Elemental Analysis With Quadrupole Mass Filters Operated In Higher Stability Regions. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 1999, 14, 1111-1119.

1998

Douglas, D. J. ; Konenkov, N. V. Ion Source Emittance Influence On The Transmission Of A Quadrupole Operated In The Second Stability Region. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 1998, 9, 1074-1080.
Zechel, D. L. ; Konermann, L. ; Withers, S. G. ; Douglas, D. J. Pre-Steady State Kinetic Analysis Of An Enzymatic Reaction Monitored By Time-Resolved Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Biochemistry 1998, 37, 7664-7669.
Douglas, D. J. Applications Of Collision Dynamics In Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 1998, 9, 101-113.
Konermann, L. ; Douglas, D. J. Unfolding Of Proteins Monitored By Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry: A Comparison Of Positive And Negative Ion Modes. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 1998, 9, 1248-1254.
Nesatiy, V. ; Chen, Y. L. ; Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. Conformation Of Native, Reduced And [5-55](Ala) Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor In The Gas Phase. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 1998, 12, 40-44.
Campbell, J. M. ; Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. A New Linear Ion Trap Time-Of-Flight System With Tandem Mass Spectrometry Capabilities. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 1998, 12, 1463-1474.
Chen, Y. L. ; Campbell, J. M. ; Collings, B. A. ; Konermann, L. ; Douglas, D. J. Stability Of A Highly Charged Noncovalent Complex In The Gas Phase: Holomyoglobin. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 1998, 12, 1003-1010.

1997

Konermann, L. ; Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. Cytochrome C Folding Kinetics Studied By Time-Resolved Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Biochemistry 1997, 36, 5554-5559.
Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. An Extended Mass Range Quadrupole For Electrospray Mass Spectrometry. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Processes 1997, 162, 121-127.
Chen, Y. L. ; Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. Collision Cross Sections Of Myoglobin And Cytochrome C Ions With Ne, Ar, And Kr. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 1997, 8, 681-687.
Hunter, C. L. ; Mauk, A. G. ; Douglas, D. J. Dissociation Of Heme From Myoglobin And Cytochrome B(5): Comparison Of Behavior In Solution And The Gas Phase. Biochemistry 1997, 36, 1018-1025.
Du, Z. H. ; Olney, T. N. ; Douglas, D. J. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry With A Quadrupole Mass Filter Operated In The Third Stability Region. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 1997, 8, 1230-1236.
Konermann, L. ; Rosell, F. I. ; Mauk, A. G. ; Douglas, D. J. Acid-Induced Denaturation Of Myoglobin Studied By Time-Resolved Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Biochemistry 1997, 36, 6448-6454.

1996

Collings, B. A. ; Douglas, D. J. Conformation Of Gas-Phase Myoglobin Ions. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1996, 118, 4488-4489.
Ying, J. F. ; Douglas, D. J. High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectra With A Quadrupole Mass Filter. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 1996, 10, 649-652.