System combines top-down and bottom-up proteomics to improve biomarker discovery

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. and Bruker Corp. have jointlylaunched the Lucid Proteomics System, the first system to combine top-down andbottom-up proteomics approaches for biomarker discovery. With both techniqueson one platform, the Lucid Proteomics System accelerates biomarker researchprograms by improving the chances of discovering biomarkers that have clinicalrelevance. The system combines Bio-Rad's ProteinChip surface-enhanced laserdesorption/ionization (SELDI)-based array technology with Bruker'sultrafleXtreme matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight(MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometer. The top-down solution includeshigh-throughput protein profiling and identification of biomarker candidates,either by direct on-chip TOF/TOF analysis suitable for small peptides, or byenrichment, purification and digestion followed by TOF/TOF analysis for largerproteins. For the bottom-up approach, Bruker's ultrafleXtreme MALDI-TOF/TOFoffers unmatched performance with high sensitivity, resolution and massaccuracy.