Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Germany

Q: What is the focus of your lab’s research?

A: One of the topics of our lab is the interaction of insect pheromones and their analogues with pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) which are part of an extremely sensitive multi-component pheromone detection system.

We utilize binding assays to determine the function of the PBPs through affinity measurements of the protein-ligand receptors, calculate binding constants, the spatial arrangement of the complex and do modeling. In addition, point-mutated PBPs are used for a better understanding of the contribution of individual amino acids to the binding event.

Q: How does the TriVersa NanoMate® (TVNM) align with your research goals?

A: The TVNM enabled us to develop a high-throughput method to study protein-ligand-interactions for large series of different pheromones and their analogues.

As the binding energies involved are very low and we need to preserve the native structure of the molecules, the soft-ionization conditions of the TVNM are perfect for us. Further, these studies are difficult with classic electrospray, due to the stickiness of the samples. They create problems from short cleaning cycles and produce contaminations.

In contrast, the established method with the TVNM is reliable and stable, and it eliminates the sticky sample issues. In addition, multiple experiments with very low quantities of protein (1 nmol) at different cone-voltage conditions are possible.

We recently added the LESA™ (Liquid Extraction Surface Analysis) capability to the TVNM. This enables us to detect putative signal molecules on leaf surfaces and to track down their production and storage sites by comparing the data with extracts from samples derived from the inner compartments of the leaves.

Q: To whom would you recommend the TriVersa NanoMate for their research?

A: I would recommend the TriVersa NanoMate to everybody because it is a universal source. With direct infusion, coupling for fraction collection and surface analysis, it may replace all ionization sources.