Instrumentation

The Laboratory is also equipped with a PerSeptive Biosystems Voyager matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer (linear mode) that is used for peptide validation and mass-mapping of peptides. The sensitivity and relative accuracy of the instrument allows the m/z information obtained from protein digests to be used to help identify proteins using database search algorithms. Throughput to this instrument is enhanced by robotic spotting of peptides to the sample plate using an LC Packings Probot (see above). We also have access to a PerSeptive Biosystems Voyager Elite XL ("Big Tex") which is located in the Laboratory for Biological Mass Spectrometry (LBMS) in the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. This instrument is used for high mass accuracy measurements used in protein identification by mass mapping.