Thermo Fisher Scientific is set to release a proteomics workflow solution at HUPO 2008, as well as upgrades to two of its software packages.
Proteome Dynamics is an integrated portfolio of proteomics solutions, including reagents, sample preparation kits and protocols, mass spectrometers and application-specific bio-software designed to work together to facilitate the identification, quantitation and characterisation of proteins.
The introductions include: Automated Phosphopeptide Workflow, a complete protocol for the automated analysis of phosphopeptides; SIEVE 1.2, an upgrade to the label-free differential analysis software used to measure and identify changes in proteins and peptides based on the comparison of LC/MS datasets; and ProSightPC 2.0, which extends the capabilities of identification software to support the identification and characterisation of proteins from all high-mass accuracy tandem mass spectrometry experiments.
The Automated Phosphopeptide Workflow combines Thermo Scientific technologies with the Pierce Phosphopeptide Enrichment Kit, the Kingfisher Flex magnetic bead purification system and the LTQ Orbitrap XL ETD hybrid mass spectrometer to enable fully automated analysis of phosphopeptides.
Scientists involved in mapping signalling pathways have found that phosphopeptide enrichment by immobilised metal and metal oxide affinity chromatography followed by MS analysis is a powerful technique.
However, the complexity of the samples and low-throughput handling procedures have proved problematic.
Thermo Fisher Scientific said its integrated protocol provides a simple, robust solution to these problems.
Also launching at HUPO 2008 will be Thermo Fisher Scientific's SIEVE 1.2 Software.
SIEVE automates the label-free differential expression of proteins and peptides by comparing LC/MS datasets of 'healthy' or control samples with treated or 'diseased' samples to determine if there are differences without the need for isotopic labels.
Previously, only pairs of single analyses or datasets could be compared.
However, in research areas such as biomarker discovery, being able to look at trends in the data is essential, and SIEVE 1.2 now provides the ability to look at multiple time points or dosing points within a single trend analysis.
Also being showcased will be Thermo Fisher Scientific's ProSightPC 2.0 software, initially designed to facilitate top-down identification and characterisation of proteins and now enhanced to support all high-mass accuracy, high resolution MS/MS proteomics experiments.
ProSightPC 2.0 enables high-throughput processing of all accurate mass MS2 data, whether from top-down, middle-down or bottom-up experiments and includes the characterisation of proteins with known PTMs.
Andreas Huhmer, director of proteomics marketing at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said: 'Thermo Scientific's ProSightPC 2.0 is geared towards hybrid spectrometry techniques and supports data generated by the LTQ Orbitrap XL ETD mass spectrometer.
'This provides researchers with a tool to decipher intricate differences of protein isoforms and variants.'