Sigma-Aldrich Corporation Revolutionizes Protein Mass Spectrometry Sample Preparation From Hours To Minutes

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL - News), a leading $1.7 billion Life Science company, has announced that with the release of Sigma's Proteomics Grade Trypsin Spin Column, waiting on trypsin to digest samples is no longer the bottleneck prior to mass spectrometry analysis. The Trypsin Spin Column reduces the time to digest complex protein mixtures from as much as 18 hours with conventional methods to only 15 minutes. Potential discoveries can now be made in minutes rather than hours or days.

"With this new trypsin format, mass spectrometrists will now have the flexibility to analyze important samples within minutes," said Jennifer Williams, Product Manager for Quantitative Proteomics. "It is the easiest and fastest method for protein sample preparation currently available on the market. The Trypsin Spin Column exemplifies our commitment to providing cutting-edge proteomics tools to the research community and to the development of innovative products in order to progress scientific research."

The Trypsin Spin Column, Proteomics Grade, contains highly purified, TPCK-treated porcine trypsin, immobilized on a chemically modified silica support to minimize non-specific absorption. This enables protein trypsination in one simple step; samples are ready for immediate analysis by mass spectrometry. 10-100 micrograms of protein sample are applied to the Spin Column, where they are digested with great efficiency and specificity. Fifteen minutes later, peptide fragments are eluted, ready for MS analysis and requiring no additional clean-up. Quality of MS data obtained using the Trypsin Spin Column is equal to, and in some cases better than, that obtained with a traditional digest.

The launch of the Trypsin Spin column is an innovative addition to Sigma-Aldrich's extensive product portfolio providing its customers with an important tool for the acceleration of results in fast-moving fields such as drug discovery and proteomics.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has 7,200 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at http://sigma-aldrich.com .

Cautionary Statement: This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Company's expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Company's operations and conditions in the markets the Company serves. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Source: Sigma-Aldrich

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