Mass Spectrometry Protein Analysis
Wako offers a range of products to optimise MALDI-TOF MS, from proteome preparation reagents and digestion enzymes
to MALDI-TOF MS matrix.
Applications
Following electrophoresis, distinct protein bands or spots of interest can be subjected to in-gel digestion by enzymes such as lysyl endopeptidase or endoproteinases prior to analysis by MALDI-TOF MS.
Mass spectrometry has become a crucial tool in both the research and the diagnostic laboratory. This is because it is able to provide critical information regarding the conformational and structural properties of biomolecules. As it is an accurate, sensitive and adaptable technique it has become a vital tool for the characterisation of biomolecules, and has found a particular use in the field of protein analysis and proteomics.
Capabilities of the technique include:
Protein sequencing and identification
Protein characterisation, including post-translational modifications
Discovery and determination of a proteome
Protein quantification and mass determination
This information can provide the laboratory with a wealth of data relating to species identification and phenotype, which in turn can be invaluable in providing information for diagnosis and characterisation of disease states. In addition mass spectrometry has gained a key place in medical research in fields such as target discovery and investgation of drug metabolites.
However in order to obtain the most reliable results, it is important to employ the best quality reagents and solvents for all stages of the process. This maximises data quality, avoid artefactual modifications of analytes and minimises the risk of contamination. In view of this Alpha Laboratories is delighted to be able supply the range of MS products from Wako Chemicals, which have been developed to ensure that the best quality, most reliable data can always be obtained.
Lysyl Endopeptidase
Adding Lysyl Endopeptidase to your digestion protocols can help improve protein sequence coverage!
Lysyl Endopeptidase specifically cleaves the peptide bonds at the carboxy-terminal side of Lysine and S-aminoethylcysteine residues, with a high degree of specificity. This makes it a valuable tool for protein sequence analysis and for enzymatic synthesis of Lys-X compounds.
An added feature of Lysyl Endopeptidase is its ability to retain complete activity after incubation in 4M urea or in 0.1% SDS solution for up to 6 hours at 30 degrees C.
Lysyl Endopeptidase, Mass Spectrometry Grade is a freeze-dried product that retains sufficient activity for in-gel digestion of protein bands or spots and is packed in conveniently small quantities for this application.
