StudiesMass Spectrometry Mass spectrometers are instruments that quantify the masses of individual molecules that have been transformed into ions. These instruments take advantage of the fact that ionized atoms have different mass-to-charge ratios (m/e), which can be measured with high levels of accuracy and precision. The diversity of its applications, including molecular weight measurements, reaction monitoring, amino acid sequencing, oligonucleotide sequencing, protein structure determination has resulted in mass spectrometry (MS) becoming one of the few quintessential analytical research techniques available today. To assess the degree of adoption of MS by different scientific fields, The Science Advisory Board conducted a study of 1,600+ its members. In years past, highly trained professionals in core facilities most often managed complicated, finicky and prohibitively expensive mass spectrometers. Recently, however, lower cost and more robust models have been developed—enabling individual labs to acquire and use them with great success. A point in fact, greater than 50% of scientists who participated in this study indicated that the mass spectrometer they use is not in a core/service lab. Scientists were asked to specify their mass spectrometer’s ion source, ionization detector, instrument configuration and analysis software. The study also measured satisfaction levels with specific features of their instrument and supplier. Additionally, scientists were asked to assess their current MS usage and applications as well as project future MS usage and applications. Given the growing attention devoted to quantitative proteomics, scientists were asked to describe their challenges with and expectations for this newer MS technology. The Science Advisory Board found that academic scientists using MS were more likely to be molecular or cell biologists than were industrial scientists. This division may reflect the more exploratory nature of academic research, which allows scientists to traverse the traditional boundaries between chemistry and biology more readily. For industrial scientists, a more rigid divide typically exists between these two disciplines, thus reinforcing the very targeted goals of drug discovery research. Despite the differing approaches, protein identification and characterization are the two top applications of MS researchers. Two scientists encapsulate these observations in their comments on the challenges with regard to adopting mass spectrometry by life scientists: “The perceived notion than mass spectrometry is too complicated, too time consuming and too costly to be useful to this population of biologists. Overcoming these notions, as well as showing the applicability of mass spectrometry to the molecular biology workflow is absolutely necessary for the adoption of mass spectrometry by molecular biologists.” -David, Principal Investigator, North America “…There are a bewildering number of technological platforms available, none are perfect and they provide different merits. There is much to learn in the process from cell to mass spectrum and the cell biologist needs to be very aware of the potential for bias when designing an experiment with careful planning from the outset. The cell model to be examined needs to be highly reproducible and well defined. Sample preparation requires utmost attention to detail...Nonetheless; the reliability of instruments has improved enormously. So too has the quality of the work, so a cell biologist can now look to examples in high impact journals to justify the technology. The challenge should be embraced; there is a lot of fundamental cell biology to be explored at the proteomic level. Some types of analyses, such as examination of tissue fluids and components of extracellular matrix cannot be readily addressed using DNA microarray technology, but require exploration at the protein level. Cell biologists that are diligent, pay meticulous attention to detail and are prepared to conduct stopwatch science are among those most suited to make the most of new exciting proteomic opportunities.” -Jorge, Principal Investigator, Europe As alluded to in the above quote, scientists can now choose from a variety of different types of MS instruments. These increased offerings are due in part to technical advances in ionization and separation technology. Despite this impressive variety of platforms available, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) are the instrument configurations scientists most commonly used. Industrial scientists are more likely to use LC/MS and academic scientists are more likely to use MALDI-TOF. “Relatively recently, leading mass spectrometer suppliers have recognized this demand and have introduced new MALDI-TOF or LC/MS platforms that offer scientists enhanced sensitivity, greater throughput, and more cost-effectiveness,” explains Tamara Zemlo, Ph.D., MPH, Executive Director of The Science Advisory Board. Additionally, some suppliers are offering a bench-top MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer for analysis of large molecules as well as applications in clinical proteomics. In what seems a rush to avail themselves of this increased instrument functionality, 45% of those scientists planning to purchase a new mass spectrometer will do so within the next 6 months. And of those who obtained a new mass spectrometer, “greater sensitivity” was the primary reason 25% of scientists purchased their newest instrument from the supplier that they did. The second most important reason was the ability to perform more applications. However, when the scientists were asked which feature would most influence their selection of a new mass spectrometer today, sensitivity ranked third in importance. Of those scientists polled, 22% stated, “higher mass accuracy, ” 21% stated, “ability to perform more applications,” and 19% stated, “better low abundance identification.” Because “higher mass accuracy” can be achieved by increasing an instrument’s resolution, suppliers are therefore working on obtaining both a cleaner separation of standards and samples from background noise and the formation of sharper and more evenly shaped peaks. “This emphasis on improving resolution is the result of scientists’ more vocal desire to achieve the gold standard for MS applications that demand precise, quantitative measurements,” states Zemlo. Further comments from the study's participants can be reviewed by accessing the study's Insights page. ### To read summaries of past studies on Mass Spectrometry, please visit: The Tools and Techniques of Protein Science Protein Identification and Characterization Results indicate that by far, the top two types of ionization sources respondents prefer to use on their protein samples are matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALD) and electrospray (ES). Proteins are primarily analyzed by time-of-flight mass technology, though quadrupole mass analyzers were a popular second choice. The Tools and Techniques of Protein Science Protein Separation Most scientists preferred separation technique is one-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) under reducing conditions. This was followed by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE under nonreducing and then one-dimensional SDS-PAGE under non-denaturing conditions. Clinical Proteomics Clinical proteomics applies high-throughput protein analysis techniques to identify protein expression patterns that are indicative of disease states. Many researchers believe that changes in protein expression patterns are the most accurate way to identify diseases in their early stages. To read profiles of Members using mass spectrometry in their reseach, please read: Profile of a Proteomics Researcher at a Department of Energy Laboratory: Mary Lipton, Ph.D. A Member since September 2001 Proteomics is the precise analysis of an organism's total complement of proteins. Its foundation rests on the methods and processes for looking at which proteins are present in a cell under a variety of circumstances...more >> BIOENTREPRENEUR SERIES Bioentrepreneurs Up Close and Personal: A Start-Up Story: A Memoir by PJR A Member Since September 2003 Being a first-mover in a risk-averse environment really poses problems from scientific discussions to decision-making at the top...more >> Structural Investigator of Microbial Pathogenesis: Mark J. Jedrzejas A Member Since April 2004 His lab is busy developing structural genomics tools that will facilitate not only the modeling of new microbial structures, but will also be used to investigate the structure, function and evolution of these entities...more >> See what your colleagues have to say about what they perceive to be the greatest challenge with regard to the adoption of mass spectrometry by life scientists by clicking here. [ View Current & Future Studies ] [ View Past Studies ] |
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