A new test for detecting diabetes biomarkers is 1000 times more detailed and 100 per cent faster than current methods, according to new research.
The study, conducted by researchers at University of Warwick, found that the 2D Mass Spectrometry test (2DMS), which was originally designed to study collage, slices proteins into smaller fragments and uses multidimensional mass spectrometry to yield incredibly detailed data. It is also 100 per cent quicker. 2DMS could have a range of applications, including testing for diabetes and cancer biomarkers.
“Within each and every cancer cell there are at least a million peptides comprising the protein machines that enable the cell to function,” said Professor Peter O’Connor, of the University of Warwick’s department of Chemistry. “Understanding the structure and chemistry of all peptides and proteins will enable ground-breaking treatments to be developed, with 2DMS providing a new tool for studying them in far greater detail than before.”
2DMS is inspired by the field of nuclear magnetic resonance, which uses tools that spread out signals on a multidimensional canvas.
“The 2DMS method modulates ion signal intensities in a way which carries over into fragment ion signals, and therefore allows the researchers to correlate individual fragment ion signals with their precursor ion – effectively allowing sequencing of each molecule in the sample simultaneously.
The findings are published in Analyst.

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