US Patent 6,566,057. Methods and compositions for peptide libraries displayed on light-emitting scaffolds. Inventors: Carl Alexander Kamb, Majid Abedi. Assignee: Deltagen Proteomics.
Covers methods and compositions for peptides, protein fragments, and libraries of these molecules that are displayed on a scaffold consisting of a protein that is capable of emitting light. Thus, the expression of library members in cells can be monitored via the emitted light, for example, by FACS, spectrophotometry, CCD, plate readers, or fluorescent microscopy. This permits screening of expression libraries on a cell-by-cell basis.
US Patent 6,554,991. Automated system for two-dimensional electrophoresis. Inventors: Jack Goodman, Leigh Anderson. Assignee: Large Scale Proteomics (now Large Scale Biology).
Covers an automated high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprising gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software, and methods.
US Patent 6,562,576. Yeast two-hybrid system and use thereof. Inventor: John Manfredi. Assignee: Myriad Genetics.
Protects a method for detecting protein-protein interactions. Two fusion proteins are allowed to interact in yeast cells, leading to protein trans-splicing, which generates a reporter. The method utilizes inteins, peptide sequences in a protein precursor that are capable of directing protein trans-splicing. An N-terminal intein fragment in one fusion protein and a C-terminal intein fragment in another one, when brought into contact with each other, can bring about trans-splicing between the two fusion proteins. Unlike the traditional two-hybrid systems, this approach does not require that the interacting proteins be transported into the cell nucleus.
US Patent 6,551,786. Screen assay for selecting protein-protein interaction modulators. Inventor: John Manfredi. Assignee: Myriad Genetics.
Myriad also received a patent that protects a variation of the method described above. This patent protects a method for selecting compounds capable of modulating protein-protein interactions. Two fusion proteins are allowed to interact with each other in the presence of test compounds. Their interaction leads to intein-mediated protein trans-splicing, producing a reporter. Compounds that disrupt or enhance protein-protein interactions can be selected based on the presence or absence of the reporter.
US Patent 6,555,814. Method and device for controlling the number of ions in ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers. Inventors: Gokhan Baykut, Jochen Franzen. Assignee: Bruker Daltonik.
Provides a method and a device for controlling the number of ions in ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectrometers. The ions enter a multipole ion guide after their formation and are stored there temporarily. By measuring the ion number in a predefined subset of these ions, the number of ions transferred into the ICR trap for mass spectrometric analysis is regulated. Undesirable mass ranges can be filtered out before the transfer of ions into the ICR mass spectrometer. The invention makes it possible to eliminate space charge effects, which are caused by overfilling the ICR traps.
US Patent 6,558,744. Enhanced resolution matrix-laser desorption and ionization TOF-MS sample surface. Inventors: Joseph Jarrell, Michael Tomany, Craig Dorschel. Assignee: Waters Investments.
Provides a thin layer for sample analysis by laser desorption mass spectrometry wherein the band-broadening contribution due to the matrix substrate sample composition is minimized. The thin layer comprises a matrix material in a supported dispersion. The support is preferably a solid that limits matrix crystal growth, most preferably a polymer.
US Patent 6,559,444. Tandem mass spectrometer comprising only two quadrupole filters. Inventor: Jochen Franzen. Assignee: Bruker Daltonik.
Covers a tandem mass spectrometer, and a method for scanning daughter ion spectra, which uses a quadrupole mass spectrometer for selecting parent ions and another one for measuring daughter ions. Instead of a conventional third quadrupole filter as a collision cell for fragmenting the parent ions, it uses an ion guide system with helically coiled wires, especially in the form of a double helix, in which the ions can be decelerated and fed to the outlet aperture.