Williams Group

People

Mariam ElNaggar

mariam




Williams Group
Department of Chemistry
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-1460
Tel: (510) 642-6240
Fax: (510) 642-7714

elnaggar@berkeley.edu

Biography

As an undergraduate, I used FTICR Mass Spectrometry to identify and characterize some of the expressed proteins in mycobacterium Tuberculosis, with Professor Fred W. McLafferty at Cornell University, where I received B.A.s in both chemistry and biology with concentrations in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology.  Currently I am pursuing a doctoral degree with Professor Evan R. Williams and Professor Richard A. Mathies in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.   My research uses lab-on-chip separations, surface sampling probes, and multidimensional mass spectrometry, focusing on the development and application of integrations of these in order to allow more effective utilization of samples.  This research opens up new application space in presenting methods to work with real time analysis, highly versatile sampling, and multiplexed data acquisition.

Research Projects

Surface Sampling and Microfluidics

For problems involving complex mixtures, orthogonal techniques that complement MS detection are advantageous. Microfluidic systems have the advantages of small sample volumes, integrated chemistries, and high reproducibility, making them well suited for sample manipulation, cleanup, and separation. Liquid Microjunction Surface Sampling Probes (LMJ-SSP), as described by Van Berkel and coworkers (Anal.Chem. 2002, 74, 6216-6223), have great utility for surveying a variety of molecules off of surfaces at atmospheric pressure. The formation of a microjunction at the end of a microfluidic separation channel decouples separations and ESI for independent optimization. Surface sampling, whether on a solid substrate or at the end of a channel, has the potential to open up new applications in clinical analysis.


Surface Probing Mass Spectrometry as a Differential Biomarker Monitoring Method

I have built a probe capable of interfacing with triple quad, FTICR, and Q-ToF mass spectrometers and most recently have performed optimization and proof-of-principle experiments with an assortment of plant matter and other surfaces including, after approval from my local Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, human skin. In this particular case, surface probing should allow the potential shift to cleaner, non-invasive methods of diagnostics, molecular understanding and monitoring of disease states, and testing for metabolism and excretion of assorted natural and non-natural products. I think in the long term it will not only potentially allow for improvements in the quality of life for people with chronic conditions; but also assist drug development, testing, and even potential saving of lives where immediate diagnostic information is critical, whether in operating rooms or emergency rooms. I am currently looking for volunteer subjects, so if you would have interest in chatting further, and live in the bay area, I would have a 2 hour excuse to hang out with you. Much like crime, it doesn't pay, but I am an excellent conversationalist since I expose myself to a lot of media and like to ask questions. (And I even listen to answers.) And unlike crime, it'd be great! Feel free to email the project for more details at skinTESTsubject@gmail.com.


Orthogonal PAGE Work

Gel Electrophoresis remains a popular method for separations in molecular biology. Samples are conventionally extracted and digested from gels in order to prepare them for mass spectrometric analysis. The application of the same direct sampling probe to gels, with a few modifications to allow for orthogonal driving, addresses problems in analytical molecular biology where it could be possible to liberate samples from gel based systems for further analysis via mass spectrometric detection without excision and other extensive sample treatment. I have done many other things involving microfabrication and other electrospray/instrument interfacing work as a graduate student, and have had some successful internships at CROs doing drug ADME, mechanical and chemical testing, and pesticide analysis in the past that I would be happy to discuss. I am pretty easy to find, just shoot me an email.

Publications

  • Chan, E., Marcus, M., Fakra, S., ElNaggar, M., Mathies, R., Alivisatos, A. Millisecond Kinetics of Nanocrystal Cation Exchange Using Microfluidic X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Journal of Physical Chemistry A 2007, 111, 12210–12215. web
  • Ge, Y., ElNaggar, M., Sze, N., Bin Oh, H., Begley, T.P., McLafferty, F.W., Boshoff, H., Barry, C.E. Top Down Characterization of Secreted Proteins from Mycobacterium Tuberculosis by Electron Capture Dissociation Mass Spectrometry Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2003, 140, 253-261. web
  • Ge, Y., Lawhorn B.G., ElNaggar, M., Sze, S.K., Begley, T.P. and McLafferty, F.W. Detection of four oxidation sites in viral prolyl-4-hydroxylase by top-down mass spectrometry Protein Science 2002, 12, 2320-2326. web
  • Ge, Y., Lawhorn, B.G., ElNaggar, M., Strauss, E., Park, J., Begley, T.P., McLafferty, F.W. Top down characterization of larger proteins (45 kDa) by electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry  Journal of the American Chemical Society 2002, 124, 672-678. web

    • Talks

  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. Surface Probing Mass Spectrometry: Methods and Applications 2008 Center for Analytical Biotechnology Science Fair, Berkeley, CA. March 7, 2008.
  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. The Integration of Mass Spectrometric Detection with Microchips 2007 Center for Analytical Biotechnology Science Fair, Berkeley, CA. January 19, 2007.
  • ElNaggar MS Integration of Mass Spectrometry and Microfluidic Separations for Proteomic Analysis Chemistry Graduate Research Conference, Berkeley, CA. March 18, 2004.
  • Ge Y, ElNaggar MS, Boshoff H, Barry CE, Begley TP, McLafferty FW. Top Down Characterization of Proteins by Electron Capture Dissociation Mass Spectrometry: An Application to the Proteome of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis 50th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Orlando, FL. June 2-6, 2002.
  • Ge Y, ElNaggar MS, Boshoff H, Barry CE, Begley TP, McLafferty FW. Top Down Characterization of Proteins by Electron Capture Dissociation Mass Spectrometry: An Application to the Proteome of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis 2001 Lake Louise Tandem Mass Spectrometry Workshop, Lake Louise, Alberta. November 29-December 1, 2001.

    • Posters

  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. DEEP and DEEPER-MS: Direct Extractive Electrospray Probes for Electrophoretic Recovery and In-Vivo Metabolite Analysis  57th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Philadelphia, PA. June 1, 2009 
  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. Surface Probing Mass Spectrometry as a Differential Biomarker Monitoring Method 56th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Denver, CO. June 1-8, 2008.
  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. Surface Probing Mass Spectrometry: Methods and Applications 2008 Center for Analytical Biotechnology Science Fair, Berkeley, CA. March 7, 2008.
  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. The Integration of Mass Spectrometric Detection with Surface Sampling Probes and Microfluidic Chips 55th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Indianapolis, IA. June 3-7, 2007.
  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. The Integration of Mass Spectrometric Detection with Microchips 2007 Center for Analytical Biotechnology Science Fair, Berkeley, CA. January 19, 2007.
  • ElNaggar MS, Mathies RA, Williams ER. Interfaces of Microfluidic Devices with FTICR Mass Spectrometry 54th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Seattle WA. May 28 - June 1, 2006.

    • Professional Experience

  • Member, Alpha Chi Sigma (professional chemistry fraternity)
  • Member, American Chemical Society
  • Member, American Society for Mass Spectrometry
  • Member, International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics
  • Member, Phi Sigma Pi (honor/service fraternity)
  • Chair, UC Berkeley Graduate Assembly Publications Committee
  • Member, UC Berkeley New Graduate Minority Student Orientation Committee
  • Member, UC Berkeley New Graduate Student Orientation Committee

    • Teaching Experience

  • Graduate Student Instructor, Chem 1B: General Chemistry. Summer 2009.
  • Head Graduate Student Instructor, Chem 105: Instrumental Methods in Analytical Chemistry. Fall 2004. 
  • Graduate Student Instructor, Chem 105: Instrumental Methods in Analytical Chemistry. Spring 2004. 
  • Graduate Student Instructor, Chem 1A: Introduction to Chemistry. Fall 2002. 

    • Awards

  • Richard A Schaeffer Memorial Fund. (2008, 2007)
  • UCB Graduate Assembly Travel Fund. (2007)
  • UCB Graduate Division Conference Travel Grant. (2006)
  • NSF-UC AGEP/Berkeley EDGE Fellowship. (2002)
  • Cornell University Dean's Undergraduate Research Fund. (2002)
  • National Dean's List. (2002)
  • Presidential Classroom for Science and Technology Scholar (1998)
  • American Academy International Foreign Language Award Winner (1998)
  • National Hispanic Merit Scholarship Honorable Mention (1998)



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