A new mass spectrometry-based tool provides more effective data collection for drug discovery efforts

Cancer and cell biology experts have developed a new mass spectrometry-based tool which provides more precise, cost-effective data collection for drug discovery efforts. The tool known as MALDI-QqQMS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-triple quadruple mass spectrometer) provides a superior means of measuring the enzyme reactions critical to drug discovery at speeds comparable to currently available high-throughput screening systems at significantly lower costs. If introduced broadly, the new method will significantly reduce the cost of running drug compound screening assays while also saving drug development teams substantial time by improving the accuracy of data collected. Currently scientists use high-throughput screening system to rapidly run millions of tests to screen for inhibitors of molecular targets that could be useful in pharmaceutical drug development and understanding of the overall biological mechanisms behind a particular disease. The new tool is being developed using a generalized platform.Unlike the commercially available systems that analyze byproducts and coupled reactions, the system directly measures and quantifies the substrate and the end product of the reaction.This gives researchers a direct measure of the assay and more reliable compounds to explore. The tool also eliminates the issue of producing high numbers of false results which is common in current approach resulting into saving of tremendous amount of time and money. Unlike typical assays which start with one target enzyme and that is tested against an entire compound repository to look for inhibitors, the new approach holds appeal in that it has multiplexing capabilities—making it possible to measure inhibitors for two or more enzymes with one pass through the compound repository.