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Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption Ionisation (SELDI)

Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption Ionisation (SELDI) time of flight mass spectrometry. This instrument uses Protein Chip Technology combined with Mass Spectrometry to fractionate peptides and proteins on specific arrays. The bound proteins and peptides are then profiled by time-of-flight mass spectrometry, thus providing accurate mass measurements and quantification of amounts of each protein. SELDI involves the binding of proteins and peptides present in complex biological samples such as serum, cell lysates, tissue homogenates or culture supernatants to Protein Chip Arrays. A range of different arrays are available, including cation exchange, anion exchange, immobilised metal affinity and reverse phase/hydrophobic arrays. The proteins and peptides are bound to the surface of an array depending on their biochemical properties. Unbound proteins, peptides and salts are washed away from the surface by simple buffers. Only proteins interacting with the chemistry of the chosen array surface are available for analysis. Energy absorbing molecules are added to the array which is then analysed by laser desorption ionisation in the time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The mass values and signal intensities for the detected proteins and peptides can be viewed in several formats and analysed by statistical software programs. The SELDI can be used for biomarker discovery by comparing the spectra from experimental and normal samples and, in conjunction with our Proteomics Unit further separation and identification of the marker protein of interest can be achieved. For more information on our Proteomics unit, please use the following link. For more information on Mass Spectrometry, please use the following link