METHOD FOR ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF PROTEINS IMMOBILISED ON SUBSTRATE OF SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPE Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC G01N33/53 

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: specific enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins immobilised on a substrate surface of a scanning probe microscope is enabled by the fact that proteins are exposed to ultrasound and a site-specific enzyme in a buffer solution of such pH value and temperature to ensure enzyme activity. Before the enzymatic hydrolysis, the substrate of the scanning probe microscope is immersed in 1-5% acetic acid and exposed to high-frequency ultrasound 1-3 MHz and power 1 Wt/cm² and more at such temperature of the solution to ensure breaking of the protein-surface bonds. Then, the solution containing desorbed proteins is frozen and lyophilised. The substrate of the scanning probe microscope may consist of silicon, glass, mica, sapphire. The substrate surface of the scanning probe microscope whereon protein molecules are activated, is chemically activated by silane.

EFFECT: use of the method allows lowering a detection threshold of protein molecules immobilised on the substrate surface of the scanning probe microscope by the use of a mass spectrometer.

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