Shotgun Protein Identification

A complexity issue
In a typical shotgun proteomics experiment, peptides from more than a million proteoforms, covering up to 10 orders of magnitude in concentration are separated by nano-LC typically using a 2 hour gradient. This represents a significant challenge for the mass spectrometer which must detect, isolate and fragment as many of the millions of resulting peptides as possible. To generate extensive protein identification information, adding ion mobility as an extra dimension of separation, has the potential to dramatically increase peak capacity. However, this must not be at the detriment of speed or sensitivity.

TIMS-PASEF^®
The unique design of TIMS enables the PASEF^®method where concentrated packets of ions elute from the ion mobility cell with widths of 2-5 ms enabling MS/MS acquisition speed >100 Hz and a duty cycle that approaches 100%. The extra separation is thus obtained on top of an increase in speed and sensitivity, while the TOF analyzer allows to maintain an ultra-high MS/MS resolution at all MS and MS/MS speeds.

The timsTOF Pro with PASEF^®导致异常的蛋白质n identification performance and depth of analysis. When coupled with the nanoElute nano-flow UHPLC and CaptiveSpray ion source the timsTOF Pro can routinely identify more than 5000 protein groups from 200 ng of an HeLa cell digest separated with a 90 min gradient.

PASEF^®for increased throughput in shotgun proteomics
The phenomenal speed can be used to reduce the gradient time and increase throughput while maintaining unprecedented depth of analysis. Close to 4000 protein groups can be identified from 100 ng of a Hela cell digest separated with a 30 min gradient.

The remarkable sensitivity increase that derives from the TIMS separation enables new possibilities for low concentration samples. Using the standard PASEF^®method, with additional tuning, 12 ng of a Hela cell digest separated with a 60 min gradient identified over 2900 protein groups.

The ideal clinical proteomics companion
PASEF^®finally allows clinical proteomics to become a reality. The combination of the system’s speed and sensitivity reproducibly identifies over 1400 Hela cell protein groups from a 50 ng injection separated with a 5 min gradient.