Mass Spectrometer to Accelerate Proteomics Research

Applied Biosystems and its mass spectrometry joint-venture partner, MDS Analytical Technologies, recently introduced the AB SCIEX TOF/TOF™ 5800 System, the fastest and most sensitive MALDI-based mass spectrometer ever built.

This system, which is now commercially available, will help researchers advance the discovery of biomarkers to improve the understanding of diseases for potential use in a clinical setting, which is part of the promise of personalised medicine. The AB SCIEX 5800 System represents a significant advancement in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight technology), which works by ionising complex biological samples and identifying the individual protein components by their molecular weight.

This system enables researchers to identify up to 30% more proteins at a rate that is 10 times faster than any other MALDI system on the market, thereby setting the highest standard for protein biomarker discovery, MALDI imaging and protein identification. This system, combined with the release of a new processing software application, ProteinPilot™ 3.0, is part of a complete workflow that accelerates proteomics research.

By expanding the boundaries of protein discovery, the AB SCIEX 5800 System enables scientists to achieve in less than a day what takes more than two weeks on other MALDI-based systems. This system is expected to advance the discovery of new biomarkers that could potentially yield more accurate and sensitive clinical tests in the future, which is a high priority

in the medical and scientific communities.

The AB SCIEX 5800 System enables the discovery of a wider range of protein biomarkers, enabling scientists to identify and quantify more proteins in complex samples faster than existing systems today.