The Faculty of Science at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) has recently acquired two new state‑of‑the‑art instruments that fundamentally reshape protein research, chemical analytics, and studies related to drug development. One of them is a hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX‑MS) device, now available for the first time among Hungarian higher education institutions. The other is the latest highlight of modern analytical laboratories: the Waters RDa compact mass spectrometer, capable of identifying molecules with exceptional precision.
A detailed understanding of protein function requires comprehensive mapping of their three‑dimensional structures. The newly installed HDX‑MS instrument at the ELTE TTK Institute of Chemistry enables researchers to immerse proteins in heavy water, where their hydrogen atoms gradually exchange for deuterium. This exchange results in a measurable mass shift that can be tracked with high accuracy. The method reveals which regions of a protein are solvent‑accessible, how its structure changes in space and time, and how it interacts with various partner molecules such as drugs or other proteins. This technology is becoming increasingly important in both fundamental research and pharmaceutical development, offering insights into biological processes that were previously hidden.
Schlosser Gitta, a researcher at the Department of Analytical Chemistry, played a key role in the arrival and implementation of the new instrument. She has long been dedicated to the teaching and promotion of biomolecular mass spectrometry, organizing small‑group professional sessions and workshops where secondary school students, participants in talent programs, and university students can explore the world of mass spectrometry. The work of Schlosser Gitta and her research group greatly contributes to making these new instruments accessible not only to researchers but also to young, curious learners.
The Faculty’s second new acquisition, the Waters RDa mass spectrometer, identifies substances with high certainty by analyzing the “molecular fingerprint” of compounds. The instrument combines ultra‑high‑efficiency liquid chromatography with time‑of‑flight mass spectrometry, allowing rapid, reliable, and precise analysis of even extremely complex samples, using very small quantities. At ELTE TTK, the system plays a key role in examining products of chemical syntheses, analyzing biological samples such as proteins and metabolites, and supporting drug discovery projects. Thanks to its automated operation, students can learn to use the device in a relatively short time, making it an invaluable tool in teaching, research, and industrial collaborations.
The installation of these two cutting‑edge instruments marks a significant expansion of research capabilities and elevates talent development to a new level. The Faculty’s scientific work is now even more aligned with international research standards: methods and measurement possibilities previously accessible only in leading laboratories worldwide have now become available in Budapest.
The arrival of the two instruments represents not only technological development but also opens new horizons in student training, the modernization of Hungary’s research infrastructure, and the strengthening of international scientific collaborations. In this way, ELTE TTK simultaneously gains new equipment, new educational opportunities, and a research background that will shape the direction of Hungarian scientific progress for years to come.
The procurement of both instruments was made possible through the Szint+ Excellence Program, led by Academician András Perczel, whose strategic support and infrastructure‑development investments play a key role in strengthening the scientific excellence of ELTE’s Faculty of Science.