The 4700 includes the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-TOF/TOF instrument, a computer, an embedded Oracle database, and instrument control and data analysis software. Optional accessories include a 24-plate autoloader, which allows the instrument to handle nearly 1,200 samples per hour in an unattended run, a 16-tip robotic spotter, and proteomics-specific application software.
According to Hicks, the 4700's TOF/TOF configuration provides "the high resolution, high sensitivity, and high mass accuracy that TOF-based instruments give you, combined with true MS/MS capability." This tandem MS capability allows researchers to select a specific peptide ion in the first TOF MS, fragment it by collision-induced dissociation, and obtain peptide sequence data in the second MS. But unlike other tandem configurations, such as the more common quadrupole-TOF, the 4700 uses high-energy fragmentation, which generates additional molecular information such as the difference between leucine and isoleucine side chains.
ABI made several enhancements to improve the system's throughput. Whereas ...
