Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches ETD for Protein and Peptide Analysis on Ion Trap Mass Spectrometers


CHICAGO, IL. (February 26, 2007) - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, unveiled the Thermo Scientific LTQ XL(TM) linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with Electron Transfer Dissociation (ETD). This innovative ion fragmentation technology provides important new peptide structure information not available from conventional dissociation methods. The addition of ETD to the award-winning LTQ XL linear ion trap mass spectrometer provides significant advantages for protein/peptide characterization, post-translational modification (PTM) analysis and top-down or middle-down sequencing of proteins and peptides. The LTQ XL with ETD option will be displayed at Thermo Scientific booth #1437 at PITTCON 2007, being held February 26 to March 2 in Chicago, Illinois.

ETD technology takes advantage of the huge ion storage capacity and fast cycle times of Thermo Scientific linear ion trap Technology, allowing researchers to conduct rapid, alternating collisionally induced dissociation (CID) and ETD scanning throughout the LC/MSn analysis of complex samples, in a way that is not possible on three-dimensional ion traps. A new version of BioWorksTM software streamlines the processing of ETD data. CID and ETD spectra are searched independently, with results from both searches combined for easy comparison and sorting. This new system provides the most complete view of a proteome possible.

The combination of LTQ XL and ETD technology produces sensitive, stable, robust ETD spectra using reagent anions generated in a CI source mounted at the back of the linear ion trap. ETD produces c- and z-type peptide fragment ions, complementing the y- and b-type fragments generated during traditional CID of peptides by ion trap analysis. This additional information allows for more complete characterization of peptides and proteins than is possible with CID alone. In addition, ETD technology is a uniquely powerful tool for the analysis of post-translational modifications - ETD fragmentation leaves these modifications intact, rather than causing neutral loss events commonly seen with CID analysis of phosphopeptides. PTMs can be identified directly with a new level of confidence.

ETD is just one type of useful ion-ion reaction that can be performed; the ETD source option hardware supports multiple ion-ion reaction types, including proton transfer reaction (PTR).

For more information on the Thermo Scientific LTQ Series ion trap mass spectrometers equipped with ETD, please visit Thermo Scientific booth #1437 at PITTCON 2007. Alternatively, please call 1-800-532-4752, e-mail analyze@thermofisher.com or visit http://www.thermo.com/etd

Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With an annual revenue rate of more than $9 billion, we employ 30,000 people and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.

For further press information please contact: Celine Callender, The Scott Partnership, The Old Barn, Holly House Estate, Cranage, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 9LT, United Kingdom Tel: + 44 1606 837787 Fax: +44 1606 837757 E-mail: pr@scottmail.co.uk

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