SRM 'powerful' for analysis of biologically active substances

Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) is a powerful technique for the analysis of biologically active substances such as proteins through the use of mass spectrometry, say researchers.

Writing in BMC Bioinformatics, a team from the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, the Institute of Molecular Systems Biology in Zurich, Ohio State University, the University of Zurich and the Zurich Competence Center for Systems Physiology and Metabolic Disease detail their discoveries.

They have analysed ATAQS, a software platform designed to support studies of biologically active substances from target selection to transition optimisation, including post-processing of data.

ATAQS is the first software platform to be distributed on an open-source basis that supports the proteomics workflow at all of its steps, they write in the journal.

In their conclusion, they add that "targeted proteomics via SRM is a powerful new technique that enables the reproducible and accurate identification and quantification of sets of proteins of interest".

The periodical specialises in disseminating findings relating to computational and statistical analysis of research data.