Automated liquid handling workstation

现代质谱仪带来了非凡的技术进步，使进行大规模蛋白质组学项目以调查复杂的医学和生物样品成为可能。在过去的几年中，科隆的卓越集群细胞应激反应在衰老相关疾病（CECAD）中建立了最先进的质谱分析设施。CECAD蛋白质组学和脂质组学设施运行8台高分辨率质谱仪器。建立的设置允许我们运行短的液相色谱（LC）梯度，这大大提高了吞吐量。此外，这些短lc - ms梯度的建立使我们能够进行大量样品的实验，包括(i)蓝色天然凝胶的络合物分析和蛋白质复合物的大小排除色谱（SEC）； （ii）通过多重共免疫沉淀分析蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用网络；（iii）蛋白质磷酸化和其他PTMs的时间分辨图谱；（iv）临床蛋白质组学样品。手工处理相应的样品号是费力的，人力密集的，而且容易出错。一个强大的和现代化的机器人系统是强制性的，以应付日益增长的需求，测量在CECAD。因此，为了充分利用快速LC-MS筛选和大规模蛋白质组学的潜力，样品制备包括蛋白质消化、多种亲和富集和清洁方案必须转移到全自动机器人平台上。在这里，我们申请一种液体处理机器人，用于蛋白质组学，脂质组学和代谢组学研究的自动化LC-MS样品制备。所要求的仪器将在多用户环境中操作，并将允许并行执行支持拟议研究项目所需的多种协议。选择该装置的一个主要标准是在实现方法之间快速有效地进行转换。这种变化应该在不费力地改变机器人结构的情况下发生。此外，除处理提示外，应用程序不应依赖于显著增加样品制备成本的专有试剂盒。处理速度和容量应与设施中LC-MS系统的吞吐量相匹配。首选仪器应该是灵活的，以适应蛋白质组学和脂质组学工作流程的不同应用。此外，该仪器应该能够实现广泛的附件和分析设置选项，以供未来的方法开发。因此，机器人的模块化设计和具有多板和应用大容量的甲板将是实现预期协议自动化的必要条件。总的来说，机器人平台将是强大和准确的大规模蛋白质组学和脂质组学项目的必要条件。在科隆校区还没有这样的样品制备系统。

Modern mass spectrometers are responsible for the extraordinary technical progress that makes it possible to perform large-scale proteomics projects to investigate complex medical and biological samples. During the last few years, the Excellence cluster Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) in Cologne has established a state-of-the-art mass spectrometry facility. The CECAD proteomics and lipidomics facilities operate eight high-resolution MS instruments. The established setup allows us to run short liquid chromatography (LC) gradients which significantly increase the throughput. In addition, the establishment of these short-LC-MS gradients allows us to perform experiments with high numbers of samples, including (i) complexome analysis of blue native gels and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of protein complexes (ii) analysis of protein-protein interaction networks by multiple co-immune precipitation (iii) time-resolved mapping of protein phosphorylation and other PTMs and (iv) clinical proteomics samples. Manual processing of the corresponding sample numbers is laborious, personnel-intensive and error-prone. A robust and modern robotic system is mandatory to cope with the increasing demand for measurements within CECAD. Thus, to exploit the full potential of rapid LC-MS screening and large-scale proteomics, sample preparation including protein digestion, diverse affinity enrichment and cleaning protocols must be transferred to a fully automated robotic platform. Here, we apply for a liquid handling robot facilitating automated LC-MS sample preparation in proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics research. The requested instrument will be operated in a multi user environment und will tolerate parallel implementation of multiple protocols needed to support the proposed research projects. A main criterion for the selection of the device is a fast and efficient change between the implemented methods. This change should take place without laborious changes in the construction of the robot. Furthermore, with the exception of disposal tips, applications should not depend on proprietary kits which significantly increase the cost of sample preparation. Processing speed and capacity shall be matched to the throughput of LC-MS systems in the facilities. The preferred instrument should be flexible to accommodate different applications for proteomics and lipidomics workflows. Furthermore, the instrument should be able to implement a wide range of accessories and assay setup options for future method development. Therefore, a modular design of the robot and a deck with large capacity for multiple plates and applications will be mandatory to automate the intended protocols. Overall, the robotic platform will be mandatory for robust and accurate large-scale proteomics and lipidomics projects. Such a sample preparation system is not yet available at the Cologne campus.