Entitled "Q-TOF Exact Mass MS/MS: How to Crack the Tougher Analytical Nut", this seminar will focus on methods for maximising information obtained in Proteomics experiments when dealing with complex samples or complex biological questions. The seminar is designed in line with the theme of this year's SPS Congress, aimed at the "Integration of proteomic technologies to fully understand complex animal, vegetal and microbial biological systems".

The seminar will (i) introduce precursor ion resolution as a highly selective method for distinguishing between peptides with nominally isobaric masses; (ii) highlight the importance of exact mass measurement in identifying and characterizing proteins from both sequenced and un-sequenced organisms, and (iii) describe recent developments in 2D LC/MS/MS and LC/MS methodologies for improved analysis and relative quantitation of complex peptide mixtures.

These analytical aspects are particularly important where the challenge is to identify and characterize proteins from very complex protein samples. In such cases, routine protein identification using ESI/MS/MS and MALDI/MS/MS can be easily frustrated due to the wide dynamic range of proteins present, leading to difficulties in both detecting and identifying low abundance proteins.

The power of exact mass measurement (vs nominal mass measurement) will be clearly demonstrated for the unambiguous characterization of peptides and proteins. Examples will be shown from the use of an advanced de novo sequencing algorithm for the characterization of tryptic and non-tryptic peptides.

Waters applications specialists look forward to meeting you in Basel for what will be an interesting and informative seminar designed to improve your success rate in protein characterisation.