Bruker Daltonics Announces Six Novel Life-Science Products and Three New Bioinformatics Software Releases at PittCon 2002

"We are kicking off our new product introductions for 2002 with some very significant new systems, solutions and bioinformatics tools for expression proteomics, interaction proteomics, and for functional genomics," commented Frank Laukien, Ph.D., President and CEO. "I am really pleased with the pace of innovations-turned-into-products coming from our R&D teams and partners, and I believe that these novel and often unique products will be very useful for our pharmaceutical/biotech and academic research customers."

He continued: "Demand and funding for our products continues to grow worldwide, as life-science research funding is shifting from gene sequencing, DNA/RNA expression arrays, and high-throughput screening towards genetic variation, expression proteomics, functional and structural proteomics, as well as metabolomics. This is a logical progression in the post-genomic era, and also a new emphasis on high information content, data quality and biological knowledge gain, rather than just throughput. We expect that these funding trends in drug discovery and life-science research will continue to benefit our growth well into the future."

HIGHEST PERFORMANCE MALDI-TOF SYSTEM FOR PROTEOMICS Bruker Daltonics introduces the ultraflex(TM) MALDI-TOF system, setting a new standard for the ultimate performance in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for proteomics and other applications.

The ultraflex offers even higher resolution than our previous top-of-the-line research MALDI-TOF, the reflex IV. Using our proprietary designs, such as the unique gridless ion source, gridless reflectron, and patented AnchorChip(TM) technology, the ultraflex delivers the highest sensitivity for proteomics. The ultraflex is an integral part of our Proteineer(TM) suite, and uses industry-standard microtitre plate-sized AnchorChip targets. It can be equipped with an optional robot for unattended 24/7 operation. The ultraflex is the only high-performance MALDI-TOF that is upgradable to full TOF/TOF capability for unparalleled protein characterization capabilities. Our ultraflex TOF/TOF was introduced in July 2001, and began commercial shipments in Q4 of 2001.

COMPACT AFFORDABLE FTMS FOR ULTRA-HIGH RESOLUTION AND UNSURPASSED MASS ACCURACY IN SMALL MOLECULE ANALYSIS Our FTMS group introduces the APEX(TM) IV, an innovative small-footprint very high-performance ESI- FTMS system. At $495,000, the APEX IV is affordable for customers who require ultra-high resolution and unsurpassed mass accuracy, e.g. in metabolomics, combinatorial library analysis, natural products elucidation, and other applications.

The APEX IV offers excellent sensitivity, MSn capabilities, ultra-high resolution and unsurpassed mass accuracy with a high-field actively-shielded 4.7 Tesla magnet. Its intuitive handling, high degree of automation and more compact design make the APEX IV an ideal ultra-high resolution ESI-MS/MS system for LC/FTMS, or with a liquid-handling robot for flow- injection analysis.

BIACORE AND BRUKER DALTONICS INTRODUCE SPR/MS SYSTEM Our R&D collaboration with Biacore, announced last November, has now resulted in the introduction of a complete commercial system for SPR/MS. Our unique SPR/MS technical solution adds the functional information obtained using Biacore´s surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology to proteomics databases, allowing researchers to correlate functional information with protein identification and characterization data obtained from mass spectrometry. The combined semi-automatic SPR/MS technical solution is co-marketed by Biacore and Bruker Daltonics, and consists of

a Biacore 3000 SPR system a map II/8 liquids handling robot forAnchorChip MALDI-target preparation an autoflex(TM) MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer ProteinScape(TM) bioinformatics and proteomics warehousing software, integrating the functional

SPR data on protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions with MS data on protein identification and characterization.

AFFORDABLE MALDI-TOF FOR BIOLOGISTS & CLINICAL RESEARCHERS Bruker Daltonics is introducing the omniflex(TM) LT to provide an easy-to-use and affordable system for sensitive and accurate MALDI-TOF mass measurements of various biomolecules in clinical and diagnostic research, as well as other biology laboratories.

The omniflex LT is a bench-top MALDI-TOF system that is designed as a biologist-friendly molecular mass measurement tool. Priced at only $89,900, the omniflex LT sets a new standard of affordability for a high-quality, automated large molecule mass reader. The omniflex LT offers a complete set of AnchorChips, MALDI calibrants, assays, training tools and applications support for novice and walk-up users.

GENOTYPING MODULE FOR FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS Our new GenoLink(TM) represents an important new solution for semi-automated SNP genotyping by MALDI-TOF. This accessory can now be provided to MALDI-TOF customers who are focused primarily on proteomics. Providing both protein and SNP information to our MALDI-TOF customers facilitates functional genomics research into the correlation between genes, genetic variation and proteomic expression.

GenoLink offers the benefits of virtually 100% accuracy and direct label-free SNP genotyping that have made MALDI-TOF essentially a "gold-standard" for human medical applications in pharmacogenomics and diagnostic research. GenoLink is a semi-automated accessory for post-PCR clean-up and AnchorChip preparation for autoflex or ultraflex customers focused primarily on proteomics. GenoLink is based on our map II/pure liquids handling workstation. Data analysis in GenoLink is performed by GenoTools(TM) bioinformatics software. For high-throughput or dedicated MALDI-TOF genotyping systems, we recommend our strategic

partners, Sequenom and Variagenics.

MALDI-CAPABILITIES FOR ESQUIRE ION TRAP AND BIOTOF-Q SYSTEM In order to provide MALDI capabilities to our ion trap and Q-q-TOF mass spectrometry customers, Bruker Daltonics introduces a novel atmospheric-pressure MALDI accessory for our research-grade esquire3000plus ion trap and BioTOF Q-q-TOF systems.

The MALDI accessory can be attached to the esquire3000plus or BioTOF-Q without breaking vacuum to obtain MALDI-MS and MS/MS spectra. Changeover between ESI and MALDI operation is straightforward, and can be accomplished quickly and without tools. This new MALDI accessory is intended for researchers who desire medium-throughput MALDI-MS/MS capabilities at intermediate sensitivity levels. Its unique high mass range of m/z 3000 with simultaneous isotopic resolution on peptides make the esquire3000plus the ideal MALDI ion trap. For singly-charged MALDI ions, this means that the esquire3000plus is the only ion trap system on the market to provide isotopic full-scan resolution for typical tryptic peptides up to 3000 Daltons - a significant advantage for all ion trap proteomics researchers.

NEW BIOINFORMATICS CAPABILITIES FOR PROTEOMICS Bruker Daltonics announces major enhancements to its innovative ProteinScape software, the company´s integrated bioinformatics solution for comprehensive proteomics data warehousing and analysis, along with significant new releases of two other life-science software solutions.

ProteinScape provides a web-based platform for storing, organizing and analyzing data generated in the entire workflow of our Proteineer proteomics solution, including data relating to separation techniques, such as gel images, spot coordinates and spot characteristics; MS, MS/MS spectra and peak lists; library search results based on different sequence databases generated by different search engines; interpreted structural modifications like cross links, post-translational modifications, etc. biotools(TM) release 2.1 for protein data interpretation provides unprecedented support to mass spectrometry-based protein analysis, including automated protein identification via library search and automated, user-defined routines to manage the analysis of large numbers of protein identifications using MALDI-TOF fingerprints, MALDI-TOF/TOF and LC-MS/MS data. HyStar(TM) release 2.2 for chromatography and hyphenated experiments supports the complete LC/MS setup for our esquire ion traps, apex Fourier transform mass spectrometers, and BioTOF Q-q- TOF mass spectrometers. Hystar 2.2 now supports the Agilent 1100 LC and CE systems, the Dionex/LC-Packings UltiMate capillary LC-system, and the Waters CapLC system and Alliance LC- systems.