Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system, combining its three mass analysers –quadrupole, Orbitrap and linear ion trap – in a novel ‘Tribrid’ architecture that offers unprecedented depth of analysis of complex biological samples.
One way the Orbitrap Fusion system can address throughput challenges is through tandem mass tags (TMT). This technique enables mass spectrometers to determine relative quantification of proteins in multiple samples simultaneously. The Orbitrap Fusion instrument dramatically increases depth and quality of data compared to previous tools to make TMT results far better. The new platform takes advantage of MS3 selectivity to improve quantitative accuracy, and can collect twice as many MS3 scans per unit time, at significantly greater sensitivity than was previously possible. New TMT reagents are also available from Thermo Fisher, allowing comprehensive, simultaneous analysis of up to 10 samples.
At the heart of the Orbitrap Fusion LC-MS is a configuration of three different mass analysers that work together to raise analytical performance to new levels and enable completely new experimental methods: A quadrupole for precursor selection at isolation widths down to 0.4 amu for excellent sensitivity and selectivity; An ultra-high-field Orbitrap offering resolution in excess of 450,000 and scan rates up to 15 Hz for unsurpassed selectivity and speed of analysis; An ion routing multipole followed by dual-pressure linear ion trap providing MSn HCD, CID and ETD fragmentations and fast, sensitive mass analysis with scan rates of up to 20 Hz. Synchronous precursor selection enhances the instrument’s signal-to-noise ratio.
| Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid LC-MS (r) with Thermo Scientific Dionex UltiMate 3000 Series UJPLC |
This Tribrid configuration enables users to positively identify larger numbers of low-abundance proteins faster than previously possible with existing commercial instruments. Its unique architecture enables simultaneous precursor isolation, fragmentation, and data acquisition in both the Orbitrap and linear ion trap mass analysers. More high-quality data can be collected compared to existing instruments, expanding the range of possible experiments.
The ability to choose between fragmentation modes at any stage of MSn analysis with detection by the Orbitrap or linear ion trap analyser makes possible a range of novel experiments to achieve a new level of structural information from metabolites, glycans, posttranslational modifications and sequence polymorphisms.
In typical metabolomics experiments, scientists frequently encounter unknowns along with target compounds. To identify the unknowns, the sample must be rerun on an LC-linear ion trap instrument to obtain MSn data. But it is difficult to match chromatography retention time on the second run, introducing substantial uncertainty. With its unique three mass analyser configuration, however, the new Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid LC-MS addresses this problem, offering users the ability to transform many small molecule experiments by conclusively identifying unknowns as they are encountered.
New intelligent software on the Orbitrap Fusion LC-MS provides Dynamic Scan Management (DSM), a capability that automatically adjusts scan parameters as experiments are running to achieve optimal results.
The Orbitrap Fusion system features a novel, easy-to-use drag and drop method editor that removes most of the guesswork from setting up complex methods. This is part of a comprehensive suite of MS software that supports the platform’s unprecedented usability. It includes: Thermo Scientific Freestyle software, a new data visualisation tool that also facilitates rapid method development and data quality assessment; Thermo Scientific Proteome Discoverer, a comprehensive software application for protein identification; Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer software, used to perform small molecule structural identification in a wide range of applications; Thermo Scientific SIEVE software for differential quantitative analysis of proteomic and small molecule samples; mzCloud software, a novel mass spectral database that supports identification and structural elucidation of unknowns.
Contact Details:
Stuart Matlow
Public Relations Manager
Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry
Thermo Fisher Scientific
355 River Oaks Parkway
San Jose, CA 95134
Office (408) 965-6408
Mobile (415) 407-5474
Email: stu.matlow@thermofisher.com
Website: www.thermofisher.com