Thermo Electron has hooked up with IBM to provide a new software and hardware system for accelerated processing of complex proteomics data. The customized solution combines Thermo's new SEQUEST Cluster software with an IBM server - the eServer 1350 Linux Cluster.
The combination of the two technologies will allow researchers "to process their data faster and help smash the bottleneck of database searching," said the companies.
The SEQUEST Cluster is designed to compute the large volumes of data typical in most proteomics analyses using tandem liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Protein database search times are reduced by harnessing the power of several processing units in one, increasing throughput and saving the life scientist valuable time, claims Thermo.
The new proteomics system allows customers to configure systems based on their individual needs. Customisable sizing options allow life scientists to start with a solution as small as their budgets dictate - for example as few as four dual-CPU nodes, and scale up to the demands of their expanding lab - to a maximum of 256 dual-CPU nodes.
"The promise of a high-throughput solution to protein identification and database searching has finally been realized," said Dr Iain Mylchreest, general manager of Thermo's life sciences mass spectrometry business.
This is the second coallaboration between Thermo and IBM in a month. Earlier in October, the two companies announced an alliance in the area of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).