Flexibility in fragmentation techniques with the Omnitrap
Flexibility in fragmentation technologies provides an extensive range of possible scientific experiments on existing mass spectrometric equipment and allows for much more comprehensivecharacterization of biomolecules than single fragmentation techniques alone. Since a couple of years, Fasmatech (Athens, Greece) is developing the Omnitrap, an upgrade to Thermo Fisher Scientific Exploris 480 and QExactive systems providing a multitude of fragmentation technologies giving the system utmost versatility:
Ion Activation Arsenal for Tandem MSn
- Slow heating and high energy CID
- Electron Capture Dissociation
- Electron Induced Dissociation
- Electron meta-ionization
- Dual-axis optical access for photo-dissociation using UVPD or IRMPD
- External injection of activated neutrals and ion beams
The Omnitrap consists of a multi-segmented ion trap with multiple access points for fragmentation devices and has been selected as one of the most innovative innovations in 2018 by The Scientist. Its development is part of the EU-funded TopSpec project for developing technology for comprehensive monoclonal antibody characterization.
Performance Achievements of the Omnitrap
- Access to an extended mass range using variable frequency rectangular RF waveforms for trapping ions
- Highly efficient ECD and EID of precursor ions in high vacuum with fine-tuned electron beam energy
- Enhanced CID efficiency in pulsed RF elds at elevated gas pressure
- Lossless transfer of ions between the QExactive instrument and the Omnitrap processing platform
Omnitrap Application Areas
- Top-down proteomics, proteoform and post-translation modification analysis
- Structural biology
- Native mass spectrometry
In the context of the TopSpec project a number of systems in Europe as well as in US have been already been upgrades with the Omnitrap and resulted in first publications and posters:
- Luciano H. Di Stefano, Dimitris Papanastasiou, Roman Zubarev, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 2, 531–533, “Size-Dependent Hydrogen Atom Attachment to Gas-Phase Hydrogen-Deficient Polypeptide Radical Cations”
- Mariangela Kosmopoulou, Athanasios Smyrnakis, Dimitris Papanastasiou, Kyle L Fort, Alexander Makarov, Roman Zubarev: “Top-down Analysis of Intact Antibodies under Denatured and Native Conditions on the Omnitrap Platform Coupled to an Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer”
- D. Papanastasiou, A. Smyrnakis, M. Kosmopoulou, K.L. Fort, M. Reinhardt-Szyba, S. Lundström, J. Commandeur, J. Chamot-Rooke, T.T. Fu, Y. Tsybin, K. Nagornov, A. Kozhinov, D. Kilgour, T. Lavold, A. Makarov, R. Zubarev: “Novel ion activation workflows in the hybrid Orbitrap-Omnitrap platform empower top-down and bottom-up proteomics”
The Omnitrap is available as an upgrade for all ThermoFisher Exploris 480 and QExactive line instruments. As of September 2022 MS Vision offers the Omnitrap as Fasmatech‘s European distributor. MS Vision also offers the full range of service for the upgraded instruments, from ad hoc interventions to full coverage service contracts.
