Thermo Enables Faster, More Confident Metabolite Identification with new Hardware/Software Solutions

Thermo Electron Corporation, world leader in analytical instrumentation, announces a suite of new hardware and software products designed specifically for drug metabolism researchers.

The new LTQ XL™ linear ion trap mass spectrometer and Accela™ high-speed liquid chromatography system deliver speed and confidence for sample analysis. Combined with innovative MetWorks™ software, structural elucidation is simplified for the most complex metabolism samples.

“These new tools enable faster and more confident structural identification and profiling,” says Brenda Kesler, product marketing, Thermo Electron. “For example, MetWorks is a highly automated, easy-to-use metabolite identification software that uses an extensive Fragmentation Library™ to provide 1) detailed, reliable comparisons of sample and control files and 2) structural elucidation of compounds. MetWorks leverages the power of spectral trees, dramatically decreasing the time scientists need to evaluate their data and access their list of possible metabolites.”

Spectral trees are a logical way to view and interrogate structures from a mass spectrometer. The collection of MSn data that comprises the spectral tree uniquely defines chemical structures. This concept is utilized seamlessly in MetWorks to find and identify multiple analytes in complex samples.

The LTQ XL’s fast scan speed and fast polarity switching make it an ideal detector for fast chromatography in high-throughput sample analysis These features, together with intelligent Data Dependent™ acquisition ensure that the LTQ XL captures the maximum structural information for the characterization of complex metabolic samples. In addition, the LTQ XL is the only mass spectrometer that offers multiple dissociation techniques, Pulsed Q Collision Induced Dissociation (PQD), ETD (Electron Transfer Dissociation) and Collision Induced Dissociation (CID), which result in extensive coverage for predicted as well as unpredicted metabolites.

Thermo’s new Accela high-speed chromatography system achieves high performance separations using small particle column technology such as the Hypersil GOLD™ 1.9 µM HPLC columns and operating at conventional LC pressures or up to 15,000 psi. Ready for use as a standalone analytical HPLC or fully integrated LC/MS, Accela provides shorter run times with excellent peak symmetry and superior data quality while featuring the lowest dead volume (65 µL) in the industry for accelerating the gradient to the column.