MALDI Calibration Thank you for choosing SpheriCal Aqua as your choice of calibrant. You will come to find that it outperforms comparable calibrants available on the market and that it offers you the precision needed by today s MALDI-TOF MS instruments. The following is a short and simple explanation on how to set up the necessary files for calibration and in extent the necessary files for using the MALDI- ToF. It is written to comply with Bruker instruments. Mass Control List To calibrate your MALDI instrument you will need two files. The first one is called a Mass Control List and is supplied by us at our webpage. You may download it at: http://www.polymerfactory.com/spherical-aqua/instrument-files Once downloaded, place it in the relevant folder which should be a folder called Mass Control Lists and the path to this folder should be D:\Methods\MassControlLists. Make sure it has the correct file extension (.mcl). The SpheriCal Aqua Average Mass Control List has all masses available in the SpheriCal Aqua library as average Mw values whereas the Isotopic Mass list has the monoisotopic peaks listed and the one you chose, or both, should now be visible alternative in your calibrant list in your MALDI acquisition software (e.g. FlexControl). If this list is not visible, restart your control program and make sure the file has the right file extension and is in the right folder. The calibration masses below are the monoisotopic masses for the peptide range and the average masses for the protein range without the addition of a counter ion. For additional masses, contact Polymer Factory or consult the Polymer Factory homepage. Product Masses (M w) SpheriCal Aqua Range Calibration Peaks PFSA (mass1) PFSB (mass2) PFSC (mass3) PFSD (mass) Peptide Low Monoisotopic 68.22677 Da 6.232935 Da 732.3519 Da 116.57 Da Peptide Medium Monoisotopic 116.57 Da 1528.619 Da 1892.7786 Da 232.98875 Da Peptide High Monoisotopic 2557.7287 Da 3385.39919 Da 213.72552 Da 5128.1251 Da Protein Low Average Mass 535.33 Da 713.6 Da 886.79 Da 17.6 Da
User Method The second file you need is a User Method which is created by you, the user. It is created by saving the parameters you are using into a method file that can be opened later for quick access to preferable parameters. These files are usually found in the folder called User Methods. Suggested parameters for acquisition are (as optimized for Bruker Ultraflex): SpheriCal Aqua Peptide Low: IS1: 25. IS2: 22.1 Lens: 9 PIE: 2 ns SpheriCal Aqua Peptide Medium: IS1: 25. IS2: 21.85 Lens: 9 PIE: 2 ns SpheriCal Aqua Peptide High: IS1: 25. IS2: 21.75 Lens: 11 PIE: 2 ns SpheriCal Aqua Protein Low: IS1: 25. IS2: 21.55 Lens: 11 PIE: 8 ns SpheriCal Aqua Protein Medium: IS1: 25. IS2: 21.5 Lens: 11 PIE: 12 ns You may optimize by analyzing SpheriCal Aqua and adjusting your values by small increments to yield a better spectrum. You should then have the optimized values for the molecular weight range you are interested in.
Calibration The following is a guide on how to calibrate the MALDI-ToF MS after the previous two steps are completed. Note that these instructions are made in accordance with Bruker Instruments and that you should take care not do deviate from any instrument specific instructions you may have been given. I. Start with preparing your sample and then acquiring a spectrum of the calibrant using your desired parameters. (NOTE: Changing parameters between calibration and analysis may change the precision considerably.) II. III. IV. For SpheriCal Aqua Neat; mix the dissolved SpheriCal sample with the Matrix and Counter-Ion of choice or mix it with Counter-Ion and layer it with the sandwich method. The recommended amount of solvent is 5 µl deionized water, which would give you a concentration of 1 mg/ml. For consultation regarding solvents and quantities, consult us at info@polymerfactory.com. Suggested mass ratios are: SpheriCal Peptide Range - S:C:M 1:1:2, SpheriCal Protein Range - S:C:M 1:1:1 Spot your calibrant on your MALDI-ToF sample plate, deposit up to 1 µl on the plate. For best long term storage: aliquot the remaining sample into small vials and freeze. In the MALDI software, calibrate your acquired peaks against the SpheriCal mass list which can be found under calibration lists. They are given as either (AVG) average masses plus Na + or (ISO) monoisotopic masses plus Na +. When you feel confident you can calibrate against the monoisotopic peak do this since it will enhance the accuracy of your calibration. If you cannot find the monoisotopic peak, calibrate against the average mass. Detailed instructions for calibration: Select the mass you wish to calibrate from by first selecting the SpheriCal Master Mass control list among your mass control lists and then selecting the relevant peak mass. Then use the peak picking tool to select the corresponding peak. For the monoisotopic peak simply select the first peak in the isotopic distribution in your spectra. For the average mass, using the sum -peak select tool, select the average mass of the peak distribution in your spectra. (NOTE: You may have to optimize your peak picking algorithm to make sure you get the right result. This can be done in the MALDI software.) Do this for all relevant peaks giving you at least four points of calibration. Apply your calibration to your method by clicking the relevant button. Save the calibration by saving your User Method. Changing acquisition parameters can dramatically change the precision of your calibration, giving you dramatically different results. Frequent calibration gives you the accuracy you need.
APPENDIX: List of molecular weights Exhibit 2: SpheriCal Aqua Peptide Low, for the first monoisotopic peak SpheriCal Aqua 5 Da - 1, Da (Na + adduct): 91.216 Da, 623.25275 Da, 755.29963 Da, 1187.951 Da 3 3 2 2 1 1 6 5 5 6 7 8 9 1 11 1 2 91.21 6 Da 15 125 1 623.252 75 Da 3 75 2 5 1 25 88 89 9 91 92 93 9 95 96 97 98 3 755.29 963 Da 621 622 623 62 625 626 627 628 629 973.1 387 Da 3 3 2 2 1 1 966 968 97 972 97 976 978 98 982 98 986 966 968 97 972 97 976 978 98 982 98 986
8 6 2 1912 191 1916 1918 192 1922 192 5 3 2 1 236 2366 2368 237 2372 237 2376 Exhibit 2: SpheriCal Aqua Peptide Medium, for the first monoisotopic peak SpheriCal Aqua 1, Da -2,5 Da (Na + adduct): 1187.951 Da, 1551.6316 Da, 1915.768 Da, 2365.97852 Da 8 1188.157 1 2 3 1551.693 1915.871 G2OH 131127\_C17\1\1Ref 6 2366.16 2 1 12 1 16 18 2 22 2 26 28 8 6 1188.157 G2OH 131127\_C17\1\1Ref 1 2 1187.9 51 Da 8 6 1551.693 1551.63 16 Da G2OH 131127\_C17\1\1Ref 2 2 118 1186 1188 119 1192 119 1196 1198 12 158 155 1552 155 1556 1558 1915.871 G2OH 131127\_C17\1\1Ref 3 1915.76 8 Da 2366.16 2365.97 852 Da G2OH 131127\_C17\1\1Ref
Exhibit 3: SpheriCal Aqua Peptide Medium, for the first monoisotopic peak SpheriCal Aqua 2,5 Da 5,2 Da (Na + adduct): 258.626 Da, 38.38896 Da, 236.71529 Da, 5151.1178 Da 2579.72 1 G3OH DHB NACL 131115\_D1\3\1Ref 6 2 515.612 37.92 2 3 236.171 25 3 35 5 5 55 1 G3OH DHB NACL 131115\_D1\3\1Ref 3 2 G3OH DHB NACL 131115\_D1\3\1Ref 6 2579.72 258.6 26 Da 2 37.92 38.38 896 Da 1 2 2576 2578 258 2582 258 2586 2588 32 3 36 38 31 312 31 316 318 15 125 3 G3OH DHB NACL 131115\_D1\3\1Ref G3OH DHB NACL 131115\_D1\3\1Ref 6 1 75 5 236.171 236.71 529 Da 5151.11 2 78 Da 25 515.612 23. 232.5 235. 237.5 2. 22.5 25. 27.5 25. 515. 517.5 515. 5152.5 5155. 5157.5 516. 5162.5 5165.
Exhibit : SpheriCal Aqua Protein Low, average mass peaks SpheriCal Aqua 5,2-11, (Na + adduct): 5365.1989 Da, 7121.93 Da, 8878.691 Da, 1721.3873 Da x1 1. 5359.96 1 GOH DHB NACL 131115\_D9\1\1Ref.8 2 171.888 7115.25.6. 3.2 8869.85. 5 6 7 8 9 1 11 x1 1..8 1 2 5359.96 GOH DHB NACL 131115\_D9\1\1Ref 6 7115.25 GOH DHB NACL 131115\_D9\1\1Ref.6 5365.19 89 Da 5 7121.9 3 Da 3. 2.2 1. 532 53 536 538 5 52 5 78 79 71 711 712 713 71 715 716 25 8869.85 GOH DHB NACL 131115\_D9\1\1Ref 3 5 171.888 GOH DHB NACL 131115\_D9\1\1Ref 2 15 8878.6 91 Da 3 1721.3 873 Da 2 1 5 1 88 885 886 887 888 889 89 891 168 169 17 171 172 173 17
Contact Please feel free to email me any inquiries about SpheriCal at jonas.bengtsson@polymerfactory.com. Otherwise, Polymer Factory can be contacted at info@polymerfactory.com. Patent, licensing and trademark information The technology used in SpheriCal calibrants is covered by IPR protection held by Tulane University, New Orleans, USA, and Perstorp AB, Sweden. Polymer Factory Sweden AB holds the exclusive worldwide right and license to commercialize SpheriCal calibrant technology. SpheriCal is a trademark owned by Polymer Factory Sweden AB and registered within the EU.