Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- PE Biosystems Group (NYSE: PEB - news), a PE Corporation business now conducting business under the Applied Biosystems name, and Oxford GlycoSciences Plc (LSE: OGS) today announced they have signed an agreement for OGS to become an early access customer for Applied Biosystems' next-generation MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometer. This system is intended to enable higher throughput with enhanced informational content for researchers pursuing a better understanding of proteins and their role in the onset and treatment of disease.
The agreement provides that OGS should purchase MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometers, with the initial delivery of early access versions of the system beginning in the first half of calendar year 2001. In addition, Applied Biosystems would be able to incorporate any feedback on the system's performance into refinements of the system prior to commercial launch later in 2001. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
``This new generation of technology from Applied Biosystems could revolutionize peptide sequencing and, coupled with OGS's own advanced next generation bioinformatics software, could lead to significant new information on proteins' role in biological functions,'' said Professor Reid Townsend, Director of Proteomic Research at OGS. ``This new information would be of particular value in the pursuit of new pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.''
The MALDI TOF/TOF would offer researchers the potential to reach new levels of throughput as they conduct protein research (proteomics) on a larger scale. Enabling high-throughput analysis is critical for proteomics researchers due to the magnitude and complexity of proteins and their expression and interaction in living organisms.
``Our relationship with OGS and the new technology from our Framingham (MA) facility are both exciting developments in the evolution of protein research,'' said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., president of Applied Biosystems. ``OGS will be able to work with this system at an early date which should support them in advancing their 'industrial scale' proteomics capabilities.''
Applied Biosystems is developing new tools to modernize proteomics much like new technology in the late '90s enhanced genomics. The group's Proteomics Research Center is leveraging Applied Biosystems' existing proteomics expertise and internal research capabilities while facilitating collaboration with complementary research and technology partners. The goal is to supply complete systems that decrease manual handling and increase the ability to obtain useful information.
The MALDI TOF/TOF utilizes Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) to make proteins into charged ions and Time of Flight/Time of Flight (TOF/TOF) analyzers to identify, sequence and characterize the ions. This system leverages Applied Biosystems' strength in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry with the intention of increasing throughput and adding an integral second analyzer to provide additional sequence and characterization determination capability... |
