Shimadzu has released a technical report for its Prominence nano high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). Prominence nano System and Applications is available for download at www.ssi.shimadzu.com/apps.

Some life science applications, such as proteomics and metabolomics, require LC/MS/MS with very high sensitivity. Nano flow LC has been developed for such situations; however, nano flow LC has some difficulties because of its very low flow rate. The Prominence nano addresses these challenges in order to meet the demand for high sensitivity analysis with liquid chromatograph mass spectrometers. This report reviews the improvement of sensitivity with nano flow LC, necessary hardware and software components, as well as ideal applications.

Prominence nano

Liquid Chromatographs

Front-end HPLC Supporting High Precision Proteome Analysis

Proteome analysis, an exhaustive analytical technique for analyzing proteins, is primarily conducted using ESI-LCMS or MALDI-IT-TOF MS. Many proteins and peptides are extremely minute in quantity, requiring the enhanced sensitivity provided by mass spectrometers. Therefore, there is great demand for a stable front-end HPLC that can support such micro-level flow rates.

The Prominence nano is a nanoflow LC system consisting of Prominence Series units, including a flow line switching valve for nano-level flow control, and a solvent delivery unit that demonstrates excellent flow rate accuracy even at nano level flows. Two system configurations are available, including a basic 1-dimensional system that adopts the trap injection system and a 2-dimensional system in which reversed-phase separation is automatically conducted following the first stage cation-exchange separation.

High-precision proteome analysis is strongly supported by the Prominence Series and its array of features and technologies, such as excellent retention time repeatability through a high-accuracy flow rate, a low-dead volume switching valve and its low sample carryover autosampler, to name a few.

Features

Basic Performance of Prominence nano

Accurate solvent delivery at nano flow rates with newly-developed nano flow sensor 
Low solvent consumption with reflux flow control system 
Low-volume nano valve - excellent performance and ruggedness 
Higher-sensitivity analysis with less sample volume

Intuitive operation with Nano-Assist control software

Intuitive operation via graphical user interface
Visual monitoring of instrument operational status 
Convenient setting of 2-dimensional LC parameters

Application in Proteome Analysis

Data reliability through high retention time repeatability
High degree of separation utilizing 2-dimensional LC