PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING, ISOLATING AND ANALYSING BIO-MOLECULAR MATERIAL

摘要

A process for isolating a bio-molecule from a sample of bio-molecules comprising the steps of: (a) separating the sample of bio-molecules so that the bio-molecules are displaced at separate locations in or on a support, (b) excising a selected first region of the support, (c) excising at least one further region of the support which is adjacent to but outside of the first region, (d) ascertaining the molecular profiles of the first and the at least one further region(s) of the support, and (e) analysing a bio-molecule as a function of the difference between the molecular profiles of the first and the at least one further region(s) of the support. The molecular profile of the first and the at least one further region(s) of the support is typically determined by mass spectrometry (including electrospray ionisation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry), liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis or any combination of these means. Also claimed is an apparatus for carrying out the above process.