Plate for mass spectrometry, process for preparing the same and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a plate for mass spectrometry comprising a support and a PVDF-containing coating (that is, a PVDF-deposited thin layer) thereon, and a method of preparing a plate for mass spectrometry, which comprises coating the support surface with PVDF. The present invention also provides a method of analyte identification comprising subjecting an analyte-containing sample to gel electrophoresis to separate the analyte, blotting the separated analyte from the gel to the above-described plate for mass spectrometry, and subjecting the plate to mass spectrometry, whereby the transferred analyte is analyzed.

1 . A plate for mass spectrometry comprising a support and a coating adhering thereto, wherein said coating contains polyvinylidene difluoride.  
   
   
       2 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the support is made of aluminum or stainless steel.  
   
   
       3 . A method of preparing a plate for mass spectrometry, comprising coating a support with polyvinylidene difluoride.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the means for the coating is painting, spraying, vapor deposition, immersion, printing or sputtering.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising applying a solution containing polyvinylidene difluoride to the support.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising removing the solvent after application.  
   
   
       7 . A plate for mass spectrometry obtained by the method of  claim 3 .  
   
   
       8 . A method of identifying an analyte, comprising steps (a)-(d) below: 
 (a) providing the plate for mass spectrometry of  claim 1 ,    (b) subjecting an analyte-containing sample to gel electrophoresis,    (c) blotting the gel after migration to said plate to transfer the analyte to said plate, and    (d) subjecting said plate to mass spectrometry to analyze the transferred analyte.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the blotting is electrical blotting.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mass spectrometry is MALDI-MS.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the analyte-containing sample contains a plurality of kinds of analytes.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the analyte is selected from the group consisting of protein, nucleic acid, oligonucleotide, saccharide, oligosaccharide, cell membrane receptor agonist or antagonist, toxin, virus epitope, hormone, peptide, enzyme, enzyme substrate or inhibitor, cofactor, drug, lectin and antibody.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising a step (c 2 ) wherein a sample containing a substance that has affinity for the transferred analyte is brought into contact with the plate to form a complex of said analyte and said substance on said plate, between the steps (c) and (d), whereby said analyte and said substance are analyzed simultaneously in the step (d).  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising adding a matrix for mass spectrometry to the plate between the step (c) or (c 2 ) and the step (d).  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the matrix is 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid.