Translational Biomarker Core Instrumentation Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantum Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers. There are two TSQ Quantum Ultra AM instruments available in the TBC. The TSQ Quantum Ultra AM system represents the current state-of-the-art in commercial instruments with ECAPCI capabilities. The Ion Max source in this instrument has interchangeable ESI and APCI probes. The new Ion Max source also allows full probe adjustment in the x, y, and z directions with two view ports and a quick release probe lever. The probe position can be optimized for maximum robustness and sensitivity with any given combination of flow rate, solvent, and ionization mode. Its new, ultra high temperature, self-cleaning APCI probe, with ceramic heater, virtually eliminates carryover. The TSQ Quantum Ultra's innovative technology provides the widest linear dynamic range and lowest sensitivity limits of any triple quadrupole mass spectrometer on the market (5-6 orders of magnitude). The TSQ Quantum Ultra AM does not suffer from centroid mass shifts as is observed with hybrid instruments such as quadrupole-time of flight systems which use an array detector with a time-to-digital converter. This type of detector has an inherent dead time after an ion at a given m/z strikes the detector. The instrument analyzer includes a stabilized analyzer control board, an integrated vacuum manifold with two RF only square quadrupole ion optics, two 250 mm hyperbolic quadrupole mass analyzers, a ninety degree square quadrupole collision cell, and a15 kv dynode. Also an off axis electron multiplier detection system can be used for positive and negative ion detection. The TSQ Quantum is controlled by Xcalibur, a robust data system for data acquisition and processing. The LC systems attached are Waters Alliance 2695 equipped with low temperature autosampler and column heater. Thermo Scientific TSQ Vantage Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. There is one TSQ Vantage available in the TBC. Thermo Scientific TSQ Vantage Triple Stage Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer delivers the highest sensitivity with the lowest noise for the quantitative analysis of small molecules and peptides. More signal and less noise provides better assay precision and accuracy. Combined with a the robust new ion
source, second generation (G2) ion optics and hyperbolic quadrupoles, the Thermo Scientific TSQ Vantage delivers the highest sensitivity with the lowest chemical noise. When coupled with a nano-uplc, like the nanoacuity from Waters, Vantage is one the most sensitive triple quadrupole instrument available today. Applied Biosystems API 4000. This LC-MS/MS System is an enhanced high performance triple quadrupole mass spectrometer system that is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies. It has the Turbo V Source and is equipped with both TurboIonSpray and APCI probes. Analyst software is used for data acquisition and processing. The proprietary Curtain Gas interface technology combined with improved gas dynamics reduces maintenance and permits enhanced high flow rate performance. The Turbo V source permits rapid exchange between APCI and TurboIonSpray probes for enhanced flexibility Agilent 6460 Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. This UPLC-MS/MS system lowers detection limits six-fold relative to previous instruments to allow sub-femtogram detection levels for many compounds. A primary contributor to the dramatic sensitivity gains of the 6460 is new, proprietary Agilent Jet Stream thermal gradient focusing technology. This novel ionization technology enhances nebulization and desolvation, and reduces ion dispersion at LC flow rates up to 2.5 ml/min., delivering many more ions to the mass spectrometer. The result is stronger signals with lower standard deviations at the limit of detection. Additional innovations to achieve this performance include: a rapid ion-polarity switching with minimal ion loss; an advanced hexapole collision cell design that eliminates crosstalk, enabling the high sensitivity needed for accurate quantification at low levels; and a high-capacity vacuum system with a second turbomolecular pump that increases conductance throughout the mass analyzer. Thermo Scientific LTQ Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometers. The Linear Trap Quadrupole (LTQ) is a high precision linear ion trap mass spectrometer that delivers high sensitivity with fast scanning. The trap uses a set of quadrupole rods to confine ions radially and a static electrical potential on end electrodes to confine the ions axially. The linear form of the trap can be used as a selective mass filter or as an actual trap by creating a potential well for the ions along the axis of the electrodes. Advantages of the
linear trap design are increased ion storage capacity, faster scan times, and simplicity of construction. The Thermo LTQ incorporates a rugged Ion Max source, allowing simple tool-less switching of ionization probes. The excellent ion transmission achieved with the Ion Max source, combined with the increased ion storage capacity of the linear ion trap, novel ion ejection and detection technology, makes the LTQ one of the most sensitive LC/MS n instruments available today. The high sensitivity and fast scanning serve to maximize the power of the advanced Data Dependent suite within the cross platform data acquisition software, Xcalibur. A newly installed LTQ-XL instrument extends the excellent MS n performance of the LTQ, incorporating more techniques to generate structural information through Thermo Scientific s innovations in ion trap technology. Thermo LTQ XL is the only mass spectrometer that offers Pulsed Q Detection (PQD) and collision induced dissociation (CID). PQD is a technique that eliminates the low mass cut-off concern inherent with all ion traps. This results in extensive coverage for predicted and unpredicted tryptic peptides. Fast polarity switching for high-sensitivity analysis of unknowns, high resolution isolation (HRI), intelligent Data Dependent acquisition, and optional high resolution accurate mass functionality are all tools to help provide confident routine structural identification of peptides. LTQ Orbitrap XL Hybrid Ion Trap-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer. The Orbitrap as its name suggests is an ion trap. However, it is not a conventional ion trap because there is no radiofrequency or magnet to hold ions inside. Instead, moving ions are trapped in an electrostatic field. The electrostatic attraction towards the central electrode is compensated by a centrifugal force that arises from the initial tangential velocity of ions. The electrostatic field which ions experience inside the Orbitrap forces them to move in complex spiral patterns. The axial component of these oscillations is independent of initial energy, angles and positions, and can be detected as an image current on the two halves of an electrode encapsulating the Orbitrap. FT is employed to obtain oscillation frequencies for ions with different masses, resulting in an accurate reading of their m/z. Such measurements achieve very high resolution similar to that obtained by our LTQ- FT instrument. However, the LTQ-Orbitrap is much simpler to use than the LTQ-FT, does not require liquid helium, and can be readily employed in complex quantitative
proteomics procedures. Furthermore, it surpasses by an order of magnitude, the resolution presently obtainable with orthogonal time-of-flight analyzers. This would permit highly specific and sensitive methodology to be developed for stable isotope dilution LC-MS/MS analyses on > 200 different analytes and their corresponding heavy isotope-labeled internal standards. This will permit the relative quantitation of two peptides/protein, which corresponds to > 100 proteins. Other Instruments In addition to the mass spectrometers, the TBC has three Hitachi L-7400 HPLC systems with UV detectors for that can be used for off-line methods development and analysis of routine samples not requiring MS analysis.