Tandem MS for Amino Acid Sequencing

Amino acid sequence analysis is an important part of protein structure analysis and has a profound impact on understanding the function of proteins. In recent years, tandem mass spectrometry technology has played an important role in the analysis of amino acid sequences, its high sensitivity and accuracy make it the preferred method for amino acid sequence analysis.

 

Advancing Protein Analysis with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry technology, also known as MS/MS, is a method of mass spectrometry analysis. Tandem mass spectrometry technology combines two or more mass spectrometers to select and separate different ions at different mass spectrometry analysis stages, thereby improving the specificity and sensitivity of the analysis. In protein analysis, tandem mass spectrometry is usually first applied to break down the large molecular ions of proteins into smaller peptides, which can be analyzed by the secondary mass spectrometer. Then, by mass spectrometry analysis of these protein fragments, the amino acid sequence of the protein can be determined.

 

Analysis Workflow

1. Protein Digestion

First, the target protein is digested with an enzyme (such as trypsin) to generate peptides.

 

2. Peptide Ionization

Then, these peptides are ionized through an ion source to generate peptide ions.

 

3. Primary Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Through the primary mass spectrometer, peptide ions are separated according to the mass-to-charge ratio.

 

4. Selection and Fragmentation of Peptide Ions

Select specific peptide ions and perform collision-induced dissociation to generate small fragment ions.

 

5. Secondary Mass Spectrometry Analysis

The fragment ions generated in the previous step are analyzed by secondary mass spectrometry to obtain the mass spectrum of the fragment ions.

 

6. Determination of Amino Acid Sequence

Based on the secondary mass spectrum, the amino acid sequence is determined by analyzing the mass spectrometry data.

 

Service Advantages

1. High Sensitivity and High Accuracy

Tandem mass spectrometry technology can analyze trace samples, and its results have a high degree of accuracy and repeatability.

 

2. High Throughput

Tandem mass spectrometry technology can quickly analyze a large number of proteins, suitable for high-throughput screening.

 

3. Wide Adaptability

For different types and sources of proteins, tandem mass spectrometry technology can be analyzed.

 

In summary, tandem mass spectrometry technology has played an important role in the analysis of amino acid sequences, providing a powerful tool for the research of protein structure and function.