Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced a collaboration with the Molecular Therapeutics Research Group at the School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast to analyse peptides within amphibian venom.
The facility is using a Thermo Scientific LTQ Orbitrap XL mass spectrometer on a trial basis with the aim of expanding its research capabilities to deliver the mass accuracy required for complex peptide identification and the data reliability needed for the de novo sequencing of peptides.
Headed by Prof Chris Shaw, specialist in novel peptide drug discovery, the Molecular Therapeutics Research Group is currently focusing its efforts on the isolation, structural characterisation and functional evaluation of novel peptides extracted from amphibian, snake and arthropod venoms.
Previous research in this area by other scientists has unearthed a number of groundbreaking drug discoveries including potential treatment for high blood pressure and possible cures for deep vein thrombosis and heart disease.
Recognising the huge potential for drug discovery from the analysis of natural peptides, Shaw now hopes that the research facility at Queen's University Belfast will prove pivotal in the future of drug discovery.
Prof Shaw said: 'The LTQ Orbitrap XL is a state-of-the-art instrument in terms of advanced proteomics and small molecule analysis.
'The system's mass accuracy enables much easier de novo sequencing, thus lowering productivity costs and the unit cost of identifying each peptide structure.
'The Orbitrap technology has enabled us to determine that the synthetic replicate produced in analysis is highly accurate in terms of molecular characterisation identical to the natural compound.
'This means our researchers can now be 100 per cent confident that they have the correct molecule for the research programme.
'This is the first time that this has been possible using this type of proteomics instrumentation, and it means that we can avoid the possibility of working for years on fruitless research.' Based on the Thermo Scientific LTQ XL linear ion trap and Orbitrap technology, the LTQ Orbitrap XL mass spectrometer supports a wide range of applications from routine compound identification to the most challenging analysis of low level components in complex mixtures.
