HCT

The next Generation High Capacity Trap

Unique Performances

• Speed: Ultra-fast acquisition of MS and MS/MS data across the fastest of HPLC peaks in real-time LC-MSn
• Sensitivity: Low attomole/femtogram sensitivity
• Spectral information: Superb quality of single mass spectra in combination with unique scan modes
• Dynamic range: High in-scan dynamic range for identification of low abundance compounds in biological samples. All embedded in a software environment tailored for proteomics and metabolite profiling.

Ultimate Speed

New, fast scan rates enable real-time LC-MSn across the fastest of HPLC peaks.

The breakthrough UltraScan™ mode provides full scan MS and MS/MS spectra at a speed of 26,000 amu/sec with better than unit resolution. The Fast Enhanced Mode allows reliable charge state recognition of charges up to 3+, with a mass accuracy better than any quadrupole ion trap. PeptideScan™ combines these two scan modes for fast peptide separations. Full scan MS are acquired in the Fast Enhanced scan, while AutoMS/MS scans are performed using the faster UltraScan.
This ultra-fast data acquisition delivers more productivity for your application:

• High-quality data even from trace components, as more MS/MS spectra are averaged across an LC peak.
• On-line, real-time LC-MSn from complex samples, as there is enough time for full scan MS and data-dependent MS/MS spectra acquisition within a single LC-MS run.

Supreme Sensitivity

Substantially improved ion storage capacity provides highest sensitivity for protein and metabolite research.

The new trap geometry of the HCT enables a 10-fold higher ion storage capacity over older trap designs – providing the highest sensitivity of all ion traps in both full scan MS and MS/MS.

This sensitivity directly translates into

• More certainty in protein identification and characterization through enhanced sequence coverage.
• Discovery of low abundance peptides and proteins, like phosphopeptides.
• More confidence in identification of trace metabolites.
• Better quantitation results.

Moreover, the supreme sensitivity in full scan MS mode is the prerequisite for on-the-fly data-dependent acquisition of LC-MS/MS data even on trace compounds.

Excellent Spectral Information

Unrivaled quality of MS and MS/MS spectra – in terms of mass resolution, sensitivity and accuracy throughout a wide mass range.

• Superior mass resolution at high scan speed and in reproducible single scans.
• Best mass accuracy of all ion traps for fast protein database searches and successful de novo sequencing.
• Superior mass range: The standard mass range reaches up to m/z 3000 for both MS and MS/MS, which is a very desirable feature for proteomics. The extended mass range up to m/z 6000 is essential for AP-MALDI applications.
• Unparalleled MSn capabilities for detailed structural investigations: Manual MSn up to MS11, AutoMSn up to MS5.

Broad Dynamic Range

Intelligent acquisition controls generate high quality spectra from both the highest and lowest level compounds.

SmartICC*, our new, patented dynamic ion charge control, ensures high trapping effi ciency in any situation: in full scan MS and data-dependent MS/MS, with high and low-level compounds, and with any mass distribution. An intensive ion beam from the orthogonal ESI source keeps the accumulation time low; no time is wasted by pre-scans.
This leads to a superior in-scan dynamic range of about 103, enabling the simultaneous measurement of major and minor components in real-life biological samples.
* U.S. Patent No. 6,600,154

Technical Specifications

Superior HCT technology

• Non-linear quadrupole high capacity trap with patented SmartICC directing optimal ion storage.
• Unparalleled combination of resolution, scan speed, and mass range in MS and MSn.
• Best mass accuracy of all ion traps.
• Best MS and MS/MS sensitivity of all ion traps.
• Fast Polarity Switching for on-the-fly acquisition of positive and negative ions.
• SmartFrag™ creates reproducible MS/MS spectra for successful MS/MS library search.

Scan speed and resolution (MS and MS/MS)

Scan modes

• Full scan MS and MS/MS in all scan modes for sensitive and fast analysis of unknown compounds.
• Neutral loss scans e.g. for determination of protein modifications.
• Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with MS/MS and MS3.
• Manual MSn up to MS11 in all scan modes.
• AutoMSn tree experiments with up to 30 MS precursor ions and 5 fragment ions per stage.

Triple Play experiments without time consuming "charge-state determination-scan".

Data-dependent experiments

• All types of data-dependent experiments, including preferred mass list for automated feedback experiments from MetaboliteTools and PROTEINEER.

Chromatography Choices

Integrated LC-MS control provided for:

• Agilent 1100 HPLC series, Capillary LC, nanoLC
• Waters Alliance HPLC series, CapLC, PDA
• LC Packings nanoLC systems (1D and 2D)
• Gilson 215 Autosampler/Fraction Collector
• Spark Endurance Autosampler
• CTC PAL Autosampler

Source Options

• ESI, APCI, APPI
• Online/Offline NanoElectrospray
• AP/MALDI
• Smart CE-MS coupling with grounded needle

COMPASS™ Software Features

Integrated LC-MS control and data processing, including HyStar™, esquireControl™, DataAnalysis™, QuantAnalysis™, LibrarySearch™ modules.

Software options:

• MetaboliteTools™ software for metabolite identification
• BioTools™/RapiDeNovo™ software for protein data interpretation
• ProteinScape™ database system for proteome project management
• ACD Labs MS Manager

Related software

Unified software environment for all Bruker Daltonics life science instruments

The esquire features Compass, Bruker Daltonics‘ new unified software environment for all life science instruments. Compass handles all aspects of system control and data handling with an intuitive and easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI). The LC/MS workflow can be fully automated with a simple method driven approach.

Method Setup

The LC-MS sample table integrates all information about samples and methods. Advanced LC-MS experiments like UV- and/or mass-directed fraction collection, multidimensional chromatography or column switching are supported.

Data Acquisition

The intuitive esquireControl™ gives quick and easy method setup, featuring unique SmartSuite™ controls for automated system optimization and increased information from precious samples.
In particular, the SmartFragTM optimized fragmentation ramp provides reproducible MS/MS fragmentation patterns for reliable library searches.

Data Processing

The DataAnalysis™ package stands for smart ways of interactive and automated LC-MSn data browsing and mining – including applications-specific automation and customization of tasks.

Data Interpretation

Powerful applications-specific modules enable automated and interactive data interpretation:

• QuantAnalysis™ - advanced quantitation module.
• LibraryEditor™ and LibrarySearch™ modules for work with MS and MSn libraries, including user-defined and NIST libraries. Intelligent filtering of search results provided.
• MetaboliteTools™ software for identification of drug metabolites. Also applicable for impurity analysis and QC applications.
• BioTools™/RapiDeNovo™ software for protein data interpretation, including database searches, characterization (PTM and other mutations) and de novo sequencing.
• ProteinScape™ database system for proteome project management, including automated feedback experiments via WARP™ and WARP-LC™.

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Further Readings