Only one response to my robotics question so far. Has no-one used these
instruments or is there shyness in commenting (you can always use the
ombudsman). As a forum we should feel free to name vendors where
appropriate. So, to fill you in, I have road-tested Genomics Solution
ProGest recently. It is specced at identifying 500fmol BSA in a gel slice.
I confirm it can do that, but in my hands I have not got convincing data
below that level, and I consistently get more peptides from a manual
digest.
So, new question: Is this sensitvity 'as low as one might expect' or can
other vendors offer better specs. I would like to see data identifying at
the 100fmol level. Is this realistic? Where are we at, on the evolution of
digesters?
Len
>Proteomics is taking off with Genomics Solutions, Pharmacia, Micromass, PE
>etc offering 'complete packges' anywhere from gel running through to ESItof
>(some packages real, some due for 2000 launch). Central to the successful
>operation of these setups must be an automated in-gel digestion system
>whose ability to deliver on low abundance samples must match or exceed that
>achievable through 'dirty' manual means.
>
>My question: who has experience of automated digesters and possibly
>automated clean-up devices/spotters? Are they any good? Are they useful at
>the sensitivity needed to identify Ag-stained spots?
>
>Any feedback welcome, especially on quantitation aspects
*********************************************************************
Dr Len C. Packman
Assistant Director of Research
Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Facility
Department of Biochemistry
University of Cambridge
80 Tennis Court Road
Old Addenbrookes Site
Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
Tel: +44 (1223) 333639
FAX: +44 (1223) 766002
e-mail: lcp2@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
Visit my WWW page at http://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/proj/adr/PNAC/pnac.html