The Need: The need for surface-induced dissociation (SID) technology arises from the limitations of current mass spectrometric methods in studying the tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins and their complexes. While mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for structural biology, existing activation methods, such as collision-induced dissociation (CID), do not fully retain the native structure of protein complexes, leading to incomplete information about their stoichiometry, interaction strength, and arrangement. The shortcomings of current methods create a demand for a more effective technology that can provide detailed and accurate structural information of protein complexes.

The Technology: The surface-induced dissociation (SID) technology is a novel method for studying the structure of protein complexes in gas phase mass spectrometry. Unlike conventional CID, SID utilizes a rigid, high-mass surface as the collision target, resulting in more symmetrically charged fragments that better preserve the native structure of the protein complexes. The technology involves a split lens configuration, incorporating a collision surface, deflector, and extractor, which guides precursor ions to collide with the surface and extract unfragmented precursors and fragment ions for analysis. SID also allows the application of selected DC and RF voltages to enhance ion collection and transmission, making it compatible with various mass spectrometric technologies.

Commercial Applications:

• Structural Biology: SID can be utilized to study the tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins, protein complexes, RNA, protein-RNA complexes, protein-DNA complexes, and other biomolecular assemblies, providing valuable insights into their conformational changes and interaction patterns.
• Drug Development: The technology can aid in understanding protein-ligand interactions, offering valuable information for drug discovery and development, especially in designing better-targeted therapies.
• Biochemistry: SID can be applied to characterize various biomolecules, including small molecules, lipids, fatty acids, peptides, and metabolites, contributing to advancements in biochemical research.
• Biotechnology: The technology finds applications in the analysis of antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and other biotechnological products, enabling better quality control and characterization.
• Virology and Microbiology: SID can be employed to study viruses, bacteria, and their complexes, providing valuable data for understanding their structures and interactions.

Benefits/Advantages:

• Preservation of Native Structure: SID offers the advantage of generating symmetrically charged fragments that better represent the native structure of protein complexes, ensuring more accurate structural information.
• Enhanced Interaction Insight: The technology provides detailed information about inter-subunit connectivity and interaction strength, allowing for a better understanding of protein function and behavior.
• Compatibility with Mass Spectrometric Technologies: SID can be seamlessly integrated into various mass spectrometer setups, including multi-stage mass spectrometers with or without ion mobility, collision, electron, and photon-based dissociation.
• Precise Control of Collisions: The ability to apply specific DC and RF voltages allows for precise control over the collision process, enhancing ion collection and transmission efficiency.
• Versatility: SID is applicable to a wide range of biomolecules, from small molecules to large protein complexes, making it a versatile tool for researchers in various scientific fields.

In conclusion, the surface-induced dissociation (SID) technology presents a breakthrough in the field of mass spectrometry, addressing the need for a method that can accurately probe the structure of protein complexes and other biomolecules. Its ability to preserve the native structure and provide detailed interaction insights opens up numerous commercial applications in structural biology, drug development, biochemistry, biotechnology, virology, and microbiology, offering researchers valuable tools for advancing scientific knowledge and applications in these domains.