Abstract: A time-of-flight mass analyzer having an improved ion detector arrangement is disclosed. The analyzer includes an ionizer that generates the ions that are to be analyzed. A flight tube accepts the ions provided from the ionizer and constrains the ions to a generally helical ion flight path using a generally static electric field. An ion detector is disposed in the flight tube to intercept ions as the ions travel along the substantially helical ion flight path. At least one timer is provided to determine the flight times of the ions along an ion path that comprises at least the generally helical ion path. The timer is responsive to the impingement of ions on the ion detector.

Abstract: An improved mass spectrometer is set forth. The mass spectrometer comprises an ion injector that is configured to provide a plurality of ions for analysis and an ion selection unit that is adapted to receive the plurality of ions from the ion injector and provide only those ions having a selected mass-to-charge ratio for detection/analysis. The ion selection unit includes an outer electrode and a plurality of inner electrodes. The plurality of ions provided by the ion injector are accepted into the interstitial region between the outer electrode and the plurality of inner electrodes. A power supply system is connected to the electrodes of the ion selection chamber. The power supply system is adapted to provide an oscillating voltage to at least one of the plurality of inner electrodes to facilitate separation of ions of the selected mass-to-charge ratio from ions of non-selected mass-to-charge ratios.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass analyzer having improved mass resolution without mandating a corresponding increase in instrument size is disclosed. The analyzer includes an ionizer that generates the ions that are to be analyzed. These ions are introduced to an ion flight path, at least a portion of which is aligned with a linear axis. The portion of the ion path that is aligned with the linear axis includes a region having a substantially static electric field with non-linear equipotential field lines that circumvent the linear axis. Ions either enter the substantially static electric field with a velocity component that is directed along the linear axis or have such a velocity component imparted to them once they have been trapped in the substantially static electric field. As a result of the combined effects of the linear velocity component and the non-linear field, the ions make multiple circumnavigating trips about the linear axis as they concurrently travel in the direction of the linear axis.

Abstract: An improved mass analyzer capable of parallel processing one or more analytes is set forth. The mass analyzer comprises a mass filter unit having a plurality of ion selection chambers disposed in parallel with one another. Each of the plurality of ion selection chambers respectively includes an ion inlet lying in an inlet plane and an ion outlet lying in an outlet plane. The mass analyzer further includes a plurality of electrodes disposed in the ion selection chambers and at least one RF signal generator connected to the plurality of electrodes to produce a non-rotating, oscillating electric field in each ion selection chambers. A plurality of ion injectors are each coupled to inject an ion beam into the ion inlet of a respective ion selection chambers. The ions meeting predetermined m/Q requirements pass through the ion selection chambers to contact corresponding detection surfaces of an ion detector array.

Abstract: A method for the generation of phenylthiocarbamyl (PTC) amino acids from phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) or anilinothiozolinone (ATZ) amino acids. The method involves a base-catalyzed ring opening of the PTH or ATZ in the presence of a reducing agent. The method affords an alternative to the established aqueous acid conversion reaction of the Edman degradation in which ATZ and PTC amino acids are converted to the PTH amino acid. A further method is described for the generation of reactive ATZ amino acids from PTH amino acids. These methods facilitate the analysis of protein at low molar amounts by allowing the synthesis of amino acid derivatives which can be analyzed in quantities which are much lower than those required for conventional PTH amino acid analysis.

Abstract: Peptides or proteins are sequenced by stepwise degradation while immobilized on a glass support derivatized with a silica-binding substance bearing a free acid group, especially a sulfonic acid group. The support is preferably derivatized with 2-(4-chlorosulfonyl phenyl) ethyl trimethoxysilane.Peptide sequencing performance is improved if the support is also derivatized with a monomeric silica-binding substance bearing a free quaternary ammonium group, such as N-trimethyoxysilyl propyl -N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium chloride.

Abstract: Peptides or proteins are sequenced by stepwise degradation while immobilized on a glass support derivatized with a silica-binding substance bearing a free acid group, especially a sulfonic acid group. The support is preferably derivatized with 2-(4-chlorosulfonyl phenyl) ethyl trimethoxysilane.Peptide sequencing performance is improved if the support is also derivatized with a monomeric silica-binding substance bearing a free quaternary ammonium group, such as N-trimethyoxysilyl propyl -N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium chloride.