RCADiA: Simple Automation Platform for Comparative Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology

Multidimensional liquid chromatography in combination
with tandem mass spectrometry has been used to analyze
a variety of biological structures including protein complexes. Incorporating this approach with autosampling
devices presents a number of problems including decreased sensitivity due to exposure to extra surfaces,
carryover from run to run, and increased dead volume.
We developed a device, termed Radial Column Array for
Distribution and Automation (RCADiA), to automate
multiple MuDPIT experiments while eliminating many of
these problems and maintaining a high resolution and
sensitive analysis. The design, which places each sample
downstream of any common fluid path, presents a low risk
of carryover between successive analyses. Beyond the
convenience of automation, the RCADiA platform also
produces data of similar quality to the standard method
of performing individual MuDPIT experiments. We demonstrate this device by performing a comparative analysis
of mitochondria enriched from rat liver and spinal cord.