Proteomics

The Mass Spectrometry Proteomics STP

We offer expert analysis of proteins and peptides mainly through the use of mass spectrometry.

Proteins carry out a vast array of vital functions in cells and tissues. Mass spectrometry allows the mass of proteins, peptides and other biological molecules to be measured. A molecule’s mass is often one of its most discriminatory properties and can be used to identify proteins and derive crucial features such as their amino acid sequence, the presence of modifications and interactions with other molecules.

The latest mass spectrometers can scan many times per second and are able to identify thousands of proteins and peptides in a single run. This helps enable the field of proteomics: the study of the entire set of proteins present in a sample and how it varies in different cells, over time, in response to drugs or in disease.

We believe that mass spectrometry and proteomics can have an impact on virtually all biomedical disciplines and we aim to establish mass spectrometry as part of the day-to-day analytical repertoire of biomedical scientists.

Our team of analytical specialists provides expertise and support for Crick research, all the way through from experiment design to data evaluation. With our high-end mass spectrometers, we aim to extract the maximum amount of information from samples. We have in-house bioinformatics support available, and project and data are managed through an in-house developed Lab Information Management System (LIMS).

The quantification of proteomes in different conditions is possible through the introduction of specific reagents during sample preparation. Tens of thousands of modified peptides can be analysed in a few hours by using affinity reagents for phosphopeptides and other post-translational modifications. While insight into the higher-order structure of proteins and complexes is provided by using crosslinking reagents or deuterated water in hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiments.