ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2003-- At PittCon 2003, Bruker Daltonics Inc. (NASDAQ: BDAL - News) today announces its APEX-Q hybrid Q-q-FTMS (Fourier transform mass spectrometer), an innovative research instrument offering ultra high performance for proteomics research. In development for over two years, the APEX-Q platform represents the combination of both a Q-q- "front-end" and a high field FTMS magnet (9.4 or 12 Tesla) for the ultimate resolution proteomics mass spectrometer.
This novel combination further increases the superb resolution and mass accuracy of FTMS by using the latest proprietary high-field magnet technology, while adding facile and efficient precursor mass selection and collision induced dissociation in a conventional Q-q "front end" for on-the-fly data-dependent MS/FTMS fragmentation, or selected accumulation of LC-separated protein digests.
The new high-field APEX-Q can deliver sub-ppm mass accuracy, enormous resolving power for peptide mixtures, wide bandwidth detection, high dynamic range, and fast automated data-dependent MS/MS for detailed proteome characterization when coupled on-line to liquid chromatography. With the APEX-Q, the life science researcher now has access to automated data dependent MS/MS functionality operating with dynamic exclusion lists, inclusion lists and other "smart" MS/MS proteomics protocols with the added benefit of FTMS caliber performance. The APEX-Q is available with Bruker Daltonics' unique 9.4 or 12 Tesla actively shielded, high-field FTMS magnets.
The APEX-Q system is now under the control of Bruker Daltonics' unified COMPASS(TM) software platform which delivers easy and intuitive operation and data analysis for all Bruker ESI and MALDI systems. The powerful COMPASS BioTOOLS(TM) bioinformatics analysis module empowers the scientist to do automated peptide sequencing and annotation, sequence editing, data base searching, de novo sequencing of peptides and handling of protein modifications and mutations. The COMPASS ProteinScape(TM) database system provides for the additional management of proteomics projects.
Assistant Vice President Paul Speir, Ph.D., explained: "The very nature of the shot-gun approach to proteomic analysis is potentially very productive, yet presently very complex. Current efforts to implement the shot-gun strategy use multi-dimensional LC coupled to lower-resolution MS platforms. We are confident that the combination of the unparalleled resolution (separation) and mass accuracy (selectivity) achieved with high-field FTMS, combined with rapid and efficient front-end fragmentation, will enable the protein researcher to reach the true potential of shot-gun proteomics. Moreover, the APEX-Q offers unique additional tools for the emerging top-down method for the detailed characterization of proteins including post-translational modifications or polymorphisms. In this approach, intact proteins are accumulated in the Q-q- front-end followed by dissociation through the use of low-energy electrons (ECD) and/or photons (IRMPD) in the FTMS. Together with our recently introduced CombiSource(TM) for push-button interchange between ESI and MALDI modes, the APEX-Q will arguably represent a very versatile and powerful MS instrument for proteomics research."
President and CEO Frank Laukien, Ph. D., commented: "We feel that the introduction of this revolutionary new Q-q-FTMS instrument will re-define a segment of the proteomics mass spectrometry market. The convergence of our hybrid front-end for FTMS, our proprietary magnets, and our new COMPASS software represents another enabling tool for rapid shot-gun proteomics and for the powerful top-down protein analysis approach that does not depend on enzymatic digestion as a precondition for protein sequence analysis." |
