Linda,
Based on your description, it seems to us that your proposed protein
sequencing study is completely within the Mission of the ABRF
(http://www.abrf.org/ABRF/mission.html):
"The purposes of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities are to
promote and facilitate communication and cooperation among core facilities
and research laboratories, provide research mechanisms for evaluation and
improvement of biotechnical capabilities of core facilities and promote the
education of facility staff, users, administrators, and other members of
the scientific community regarding resource facility functions.
A unique feature of the ABRF is the research committees that conduct
studies to assess the capabilities of core facilities and to provide
materials to help member laboratories evaluate themselves."
No where in that Mission do we see mention of proposed studies having to
"lead to data suitable for publication".
We would like to add our names (after that of Paul Morrison) to the (we
expect) large group of ABRF members who would like to have the opportunity,
and in our opinion, have the right as ABRF Members to expect to be able to
participate in a study such as that described in your note.
We also would ask the ABRF Executive Board to carefully reconsider their
decision.
Kathy Stone & Ken Williams
HHMI Biopolymer & Keck Foundation Biotechnology Resource Laboratory
Yale University
____________
>Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 20:39:15 -0500
>From: "Morrison, Paul T." <Paul_Morrison@dfci.harvard.edu>
>Subject: RE: Prot Seq Res Group
>Sender: Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities
> <abrf-request@aecom.yu.edu>
>To: Recipients of ABRF List <abrf@aecom.yu.edu>
>X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.10)
>Old-To: "'Linda Siconolfi-Baez '" <lsiconol@aecom.yu.edu>,
> "'Recipients of ABRF List '" <abrf@aecom.yu.edu>
>
> Linda,
>
>I'm wondering what "scientific community" the EB is thinking about. I think
>your study is well suited to the ABRF scientific community that needs this
>yearly yardstick of the protein sequencing sample to see how improvements in
>technology are impacting on protein analysis. A mixture that includes Edman
>sequencable proteins as well as more difficult lower percentage proteins I
>would think would be ideal for 2000-1 when the instrumentation for analysis
>are so varied.
>Are the yearly samples that research groups send out derivative, general and
>not normally suitable for publication? Probably. Is it worth doing so that
>ABRF facilities can see how the technology is changing and seeing whether
>they are keeping up? I say yes. Is the data more valuable if it takes nine
>months or more to see the light of day because it is being peer reviewed? I
>would say it is less valuable because in nine months the techniques and
>instrumentation have changed.
>Is there instrumentation that allows the internal sequence to be perceived
>from a few femtomoles? Yes. Should the protein analysis group send out a
>femtomole sample to test these instruments only? That would generate a ton
>of useful data.... Not.
>
>If you have the sample laying around, could you send me one?
>
>And since I've just donned my asbestos suit I feel safe in throwing in my
>two cents again about making the abrf discussion group password protected
>and for ABRF members only. Let's think how useful those non-paying lurkers
>are. Are we doing it to get a few more membership dollars and miss out on
>their expertise? Are we going to force people who don't really fit the ABRF
>mold (whatever that is) to become ABRFers just so they can listen in on the
>discussion group? Are we doing it to get rid of junk mailers? Are these
>valid reasons? OK, I'm getting carried away with the questions.
>
>Let's have a discussion.
>
>Paul, (I know sequencable is not a word), Morrison
>
>____________________________________
>Paul Morrison JFB216 paul_morrison@dfci.harvard.edu
>Molecular Biology Core Facilities
>Dana-Farber Cancer Institute http://mbcf.dfci.harvard.edu
>44 Binney Street 617-632-3082
>Boston, MA 02115 fax 632-4814
>____________________________________
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Linda Siconolfi-Baez
>To: Recipients of ABRF List
>Sent: 10/30/00 11:15 AM
>Subject: Re: Prot Seq Res Group
>
>Rebecca,
>
>Unfortunately, there will not be a protein sequencing study this year.
>In the throes of the Executive Boards process of rethinking its proteomics
>strategy,
>and the change of the PSRG (protein sequencing research group) to the PARG
>(protein
>analysis) the study designed by our group was not approved by the board.
>Their
>criticisms of our study (which would have encouraged participants to
>identify as many
>components as possible from a lyophilized test sample consisting of a
>complex mixture
>of intact proteins, the components of variable abundancy, with two proteins
>more
>abundant relative to the others and identifiable by EDMAN) included that
>they
>"did not feel that it would lead to data suitable for publication as the
>subject was
>too general, did not ask sufficiently well defined questions and would not
>return
>data that would have any statistical significance or impact on the
>scientific
>community."
>I also regret the EB's decision to dissolve our group at ABRF'01 (at
>which point our efforts thus far will have served for naught) as part of an
>ongoing
>Research Group restructuring exercise.
>
>Linda
>(PARG, co-chair)
>
>Linda Siconolfi-Baez
>Laboratory for Macromolecular Analysis
>Albert Einstein College of Medicine
>Ullman 405
>1300 Morris Park Avenue
>Bronx, N.Y.10461
>718-430-2864
>lsiconol@aecom.yu.edu
>
>----------
>>From: Rebecca Ettling <ettlingr@musc.edu>
>>To: Recipients of ABRF List <abrf@aecom.yu.edu>
>>Subject: Prot Seq Res Group
>>Date: Thu, Oct 26, 2000, 9:51 AM
>>
>
>>Will there be a Protein sequencing study this year ? I don't see it
>>listed.
>>
>>-- Rebecca P. Ettling
>>Biotechnology Resource Laboratory
>>Protein Sequencing and Peptide Synthesis Facility
>>Medical University of South Carolina
>>173 Ashley Avenue, Room 733D BSB
>>Charleston, SC 29403
>>Tel.: (843) 792-1271
>>Fax: (843) 792-1264
>>
>>If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the
>>shoulders of giants.--Isaac Newton
>>
>>
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