SAID to be the world’s first liquid chromatography system that integrates nano LC and micro LC on the same platform, the Eksigent Ekspert nanoLC 400 from AB Sciex claims a range of benefits.
Being capable of switching between nano and micro flow ranges makes the instrument suitable for both high-sensitivity discovery proteomics and high-throughput peptide quantitation, both commonly needed in advanced biological studies.
Discovery proteomics is a strategy in which an LC system in combination with a mass spectrometer is used to identify and quantify proteins. Once a set of interesting proteins has been identified, targeted techniques are used to verify and validate the results in further sample types by targeted peptide quantitation.
The ultimate goal is to advance the understanding of systems biology by identifying new biomarkers or new proteins of interest, and to potentially improve medical methodologies.
AB Sciex says the Eksigent Ekspert nanoLC 400 improves the efficiency of these proteomics workflows by providing the highest separation quality and reliability.
The interchangeable LC flow modules in the nanoLC 400 allow scientists to swap quickly between low flow nano LC and higher flow micro LC, with a simple switch of module.
This is ideal for mixing non-targeted and targeted approaches, especially when used with a next-generation mass spectrometer like the TripleTOF 5600+.
The nanoLC 400 is said to be the only low-flow system which, when combined with the existing Eksigent cHiPLC, enables highly reproducible proteomics across a broad range of workflows in busy multi-user, multi- instrument laboratories.
CHiPLC is a chip-based platform that serves as a docking station for easy switching between different types of experiments, such as direct injection and trap-loading. With this system, injections can now be done five to ten times faster, the company estimates.
“The Eksigent nanoLC system enables me to go to a higher flow rate, when I need it, and that is a tremendous benefit,” said Nick Morrice, group leader at the Beatston Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, Scotland. “Nano LC with 75um ID columns is great for thorough, detailed discovery, but it takes longer than I would like. Using microflow LC on my TripleTOF 5600 with the 25um ID hybrid electrode and the DuoSpray source, routine protein identifications are three times faster.”
AB Sciex observes that quantitative proteomics continues to evolve, with a shift toward targeted and data-independent analysis. This requires a new level of reproducibility and integration, which the Eksigent Ekspert nanoLC 400 is designed for.