The Roslin Institute
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Methods & Workflows

We have optimised and established diverse analytical workflows for proteome and metabolome.

Graphical representation of a proteomics data as scatterplot and heat map.

Qualitative & quantitative proteomics analysis

We routinely perform analysis of protein mixtures from gel slices, affinity pull downs, secretome, subcellular fractions as well as other enrichment approaches and can identify thousands of proteins from complex mixtures.

We offer major quantitative proteomics workflows including but not limited to SILAC, iTRAQ, TMT, Dimethyl labelling and label-free approaches. We have extensive experience in protein and peptide sample preparations for LC-MS and fractionation of peptides employing orthogonal 2D Liquid Chromatography (2D-LC).

Data dependant acquisition (diaPASEF) on our timsTOFfleX system can quantitatively profile more than 5,000 proteins even on 4.8min gradient runs from complex mixtures. Targeted assays for selected proteins from complex mixtures can be done on a multiplexed manner due to the outstanding selectivity offered by TIMS separation.

Analysing PTMs

We established workflows for selective enrichment of post-translationally modified proteins/peptides employing metal oxide affinity chromatography, strong anion/cation exchange, hydrophilic interaction chromatography and hydrazide capture. When combined, the above mentioned quantitative strategies allow global profiling of post-translational modifications.

Methods Imaging MS

Imaging MS

The combination of Trapped Ion mobility and MALDI Imaging is a uniquely powerful method for spatialomic workflows, where MALDI MSI helps identify regions of interest on tissue sections, which can then be subjected to microdissection and deep profiling by LC-MS.

DART analysis for quick biochemical screening

DART MS provides options for quick screening of either solid or liquid samples without extensive sample preparations. Samples can be directly introduced to the mass spec providing instantaneous ionisation of surface analytes, such as metabolites, lipids, glycans, drugs and peptides, enabling chemical profiling and classification of samples of biological origin.

Near instantaneous profiling by DART MS allows monitoring changes in the chemical profiles, even on live organisms, and characterising strain variation or species identification in plants and microbes.

We also offer targeted metabolite analysis for a range of small molecules including amino acids and their derivatives, antibiotics, hormones, neurotransmitters, polyamines, steroids, vitamin and others, by Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) on LC-MS.

Protein quality control and purity assessments

We offer De Novo sequencing for identifying novel peptides without relying on protein databases, for characterising unsequenced organisms, antibodies and drugs.

We can also perform intact protein analysis of relatively purified proteins, for size determinations, quality assessment and proteolytic processing.