The Orbitrap Astral is a sophisticated mass spectrometry instrument designed to analyze complex biological samples with high precision. This technology is employed across various scientific disciplines, providing detailed insights into the molecular composition of samples. Its primary purpose in research involves identifying and quantifying molecules to understand biological processes and disease mechanisms.
How Orbitrap Astral Works
The Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer integrates three distinct mass analyzers: a quadrupole, an Orbitrap, and a novel Astral analyzer. The quadrupole mass analyzer serves to select specific precursor ions, ensuring high selectivity. Following the quadrupole, ions can be directed to either the Orbitrap or the Astral analyzer for further analysis.
The Orbitrap analyzer is known for its ability to acquire high dynamic range, high-resolution accurate-mass (HRAM) spectra. This component excels at full scan measurements, which provide a broad overview of the molecules present in a sample. The Astral analyzer complements the Orbitrap by offering fast, sensitive measurements with acquisition rates reaching up to 200 Hz. It also provides high dynamic range HRAM SIM and MS2 measurements, synchronized for parallel data acquisition.
The synergy between these three analyzers enables the Orbitrap Astral to execute various data acquisition strategies, including High-Resolution Data-Independent Acquisition (HR-DIA) and data-dependent acquisition (DDA). The front end of the instrument, from the ion source to the quadrupole, is specifically engineered to maximize sensitivity and robustness.
Unmatched Analytical Power
The Orbitrap Astral delivers faster throughput, analyzing samples in approximately 8 minutes from injection to injection, allowing for up to 180 samples to be processed in a single day. This can potentially quadruple the throughput compared to previous mass spectrometry systems.
The instrument also provides deeper coverage of the proteome, identifying over 8,000 protein groups from a human cell line digest in an 8-minute run. In just one hour, it can achieve a proteome depth of over 12,000 proteins from a single human cell lysate sample. This extensive coverage is paired with high sensitivity, enabling the detection of low-abundance proteins and molecules, even down to approximately 200 copies per cell in bulk samples. For low-input samples like single-cell proteomics, it can identify over 5,000 proteins from 250 pg of cell lysate.
The Orbitrap Astral maintains high resolution and accurate mass measurements, with the Orbitrap analyzer offering resolutions up to 480,000 FWHM at m/z 200 and the Astral analyzer providing resolutions up to 80,000 FWHM at m/z 524. This resolution allows for the distinction of very similar molecules. The instrument also boasts high mass accuracy, with the Orbitrap achieving less than 1 ppm RMS drift over 24 hours with internal calibration, and the Astral exhibiting less than 5 ppm RMS drift with external calibration.
Diverse Scientific Applications
The capabilities of the Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer extend across numerous scientific applications, notably in proteomics, metabolomics, and drug discovery. In proteomics, the instrument allows for comprehensive analysis, identifying thousands of proteins from complex biological samples. This is particularly beneficial for large-scale biomarker discovery. For instance, it can identify over 8,000 protein groups from a human cell line digest in a single 8-minute run.
The Orbitrap Astral also plays a significant role in metabolomics by acquiring both panoramic high-resolution full scan data and comprehensive fragmentation data from a single injection. This provides deeper insights into metabolic pathways. The instrument’s high sensitivity and speed are also advantageous for single-cell proteomics, enabling researchers to analyze the molecular content of individual cells with greater depth and throughput, identifying an average of 5,842 proteins across 24 single HEK293F cell analyses.
Beyond these areas, the instrument supports applications in immunopeptidomics, chemoproteomics, and phosphoproteomics. Its ability to handle high sample volumes and provide accurate quantitative data makes it suitable for translational research. The enhanced throughput and depth contribute to a more complete understanding of biological systems, supporting advancements in areas like precision medicine.
Advancing Scientific Discovery
The Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer is accelerating scientific discovery by enabling new types of studies and deepening understanding of complex biological systems. Its ability to process samples at unprecedented speeds while maintaining high sensitivity and resolution allows researchers to conduct large-scale investigations that were previously impractical. This increased throughput facilitates the analysis of vast sample cohorts, enhancing the statistical power and reliability of research findings.
The instrument’s comprehensive coverage of the proteome and metabolome provides a more complete molecular picture of biological processes and disease states. This detailed molecular information can lead to the identification of new biomarkers for early disease detection or personalized treatment strategies. By combining high-speed data acquisition with high-quality data, the Orbitrap Astral empowers scientists to gain faster and deeper insights into biological mechanisms.