Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid LC-MS technology to power new cellular signaling network

SAN JOSE, Calif. and COPENHAGEN, Denmark-- (Aug. 30,. 2013) –Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Department of Systems Biology at the Technical University of Denmark, (DTU), have formed a collaboration to pursue breakthroughs in the understanding of how cellular protein networks drive important diseases.

Under the collaboration, Thermo Fisher will provide early access to new technology and designs, and DTU proteomics scientists will provide feedback and collaborate on new applications. The centerpiece of this collaboration is a new proteomics laboratory in Lyngby, Denmark equipped with the latest liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology. This includes the unique Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid LC-MS system that offers unprecedented depth of analysis of biological samples.

(Left to Right) Vlad Zabrouskov, Thermo Fisher product management, LSMS; Rune Linding, DTU professor; and Erwin Schoof, DTU PhD student and researcher. Photo courtesy of Thermo Fisher Scientific

‘Studying the dynamic rewiring of cellular signaling networks requires state-of-the-art mass spectrometry,” said DTU professor Rune Linding. “The Orbitrap Fusion system enables us to push the boundaries and analyze completely new avenues of cellular decision processes, and perform genome-scale studies of how the dynamics in these networks affect cell behavior. This is crucial, as it is now clear that the progression of complex diseases such as cancer is due to changes in these molecular networks. We were extremely excited to see, only a few days after installation, the Orbitrap Fusion system generate the best MS/MS data we have ever seen for the characterization of phosphorylation sites on critical tumor samples.”

“We are immensely pleased to be working with this talented and motivated team of scientists,” said Iain Mylchreest, vice president, research and development, life science mass spectrometry, Thermo Fisher Scientific “We share with them the objective of pushing the limits of science to make the world a better place, and the Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid system is designed for precisely this type of visionary research.”

DTU is establishing the state-of-the-art laboratory to develop new experiments to dig deeper into the core machinery of the cell. DTU and Thermo Fisher Scientific will kick off the collaboration with a special workshop at ICSB2013, the premier global systems biology conference, August 30 – Sept. 3, in Copenhagen.

The new lab will use four Thermo Scientific Q Exactive LC-MS/MS systems, and nano-LC 1000 systems along with one of the first Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid systems to leave the factory since its June 2013 debut. For more information, visit www.dtu.dk/english, www.planetorbitrap.com and www.lindinglab.org.