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Waltraud Evers

Detlev Suckau

Anja Resemann

The invention relates to the preparation of samples for mass spectrometric analyses with matrix-assisted ionization (e.g. MALDI), particularly using the matrix material 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP), and comprises sample preparation in microvessels with the addition of beads or other solid bodies. In this way, particularly thorough mixing can be achieved by shaking ('vortexing') the microvessels, on the one hand, while crystallization of the matrix material can be initiated in the liquid, on the other hand. It is sufficient to have around 5 to 15 glass beads, 0.5 millimeters in diameter, which scrape against each other and against the vessel wall, and thus cause a DHAP solution to start becoming turbid after one to two minutes by forming tiny crystal nuclei. This allows simultaneous, fully automated preparation of, in particular, a large number of samples, including pipetting onto sample support plates by means of a pipetting and shaking robot.

Mass spectrometric sample preparation for matrix-assisted ionization

The invention provides methods for characterizing a target protein wherein a mass spectrum of digest peptides of the target protein is acquired and compared with measured reference mass spectra of digest peptides of reference proteins or of proteins of reference host cells. The comparison comprises determining similarity scores of the intensity patterns of the mass spectrum and the reference mass spectra. The characterization comprises assigning the target protein to a reference protein having a reference mass spectrum with a similarity score above a predetermined threshold.

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Delmenhorst, Germany

Waltraud Evers