The ESSI technology will greatly simplify the application of mass spectrometry to large proteins. In particular, ESSI will allow the use of mass spectra to identify macromolecular species such as enzyme-substrate transition complexes and other ligand-receptor species.
It allows proprietary ionization technique allowing large molecules including proteins and protein complexes to be ionized with retention of their conformation and function. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
John Campbell, president of Prosolia told DrugResearcher.com: "Our efforts to commercialize the ESSI technology and our ion soft landing technology are gathering momentum, and this type of agreement demonstrates the value of these technologies."
The ESSI technology is likely to be implemented in early 2005, ESSI intends to bring a complementary ionization technology to the widely used Electrospray ionization technique and MALDI for the analysis of large biological molecules, especially proteins and protein complexes.
When questioned on its advantages Campbell said: "The technology's spectra are very clean, usually with a single charge state, making interpretation of spectra easy. There is little or no peak broadening. Like Electrospray the ions are multiply charged which helps with any molecular weight limitations."
Both Prosolia and Inproteo are currently working on developing proteomic tools, which will assist in the search for proteins that are considered to be drug targets. Currently 40 per cent of mass spectometry is already being used in proteomic applications.