Orbitrap EliteEdit
The Orbitrap Elite is a high-resolution, hybrid mass spectrometer developed for advanced analytical applications in life sciences and chemistry. Built on the Orbitrap platform, it combines a linear ion trap front end with a high-precision Orbitrap mass analyzer, enabling accurate mass measurements and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in a single instrument. This makes it a workhorse for proteomics, metabolomics, and related fields where rapid, confident identification of complex mixtures is essential. The design emphasizes robust performance, reliable data acquisition, and seamless integration with liquid chromatography systems for nano- or micro-flow workflows. See also Orbitrap and Mass spectrometry.
In practice, the Orbitrap Elite is used to perform data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and MS/MS experiments that support de novo sequencing and database-driven identification of molecules. Its hybrid configuration allows researchers to switch between high-resolution survey scans and targeted fragmentation experiments, providing both broad coverage and detailed structural information. The instrument is typically operated with standard data processing and interpretation pipelines that leverage popular software packages such as Xcalibur and Proteome Discoverer to translate raw data into peptide and protein identifications, or metabolite annotations in non-proteomic studies.
History
The Orbitrap Elite emerged as part of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s ongoing development of the Orbitrap family, extending the capabilities of earlier LTQ-Orbitrap configurations by emphasizing improved resolving power, faster scan speeds, and more flexible MS/MS workflows. It sits in the lineage that includes the original Orbitrap instrument and subsequent successors such as the Orbitrap Velos and later high-resolution platforms like the Q Exactive and Orbitrap Fusion. By consolidating high-resolution mass analysis with tandem MS in a single platform, the Elite aimed to streamline workflows in laboratories that require both precise mass measurements and detailed fragmentation data. See also Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Technology and design
Mass analyzer: The Orbitrap Elite relies on the Orbitrap analyzer, which determines mass-to-charge ratios from the image current detected by electronic components and processed via Fourier transform methods. This configuration is central to achieving high mass accuracy and resolution. For a broader description of the underlying principle, see Fourier transform mass spectrometry and Orbitrap.
Hybrid layout: In addition to the Orbitrap analyzer, the instrument incorporates a linear ion trap (LTQ) to enable MS/MS experiments and rapid precursor ion selection, expanding the range of possible experiments beyond simple MS1 scans. See also LTQ Orbitrap.
Ionization and interfaces: The system commonly employs atmospheric-pressure ionization, such as Electrospray ionization (ESI), to generate ions from liquid samples, compatible with LC setups like nano- or capillary-flow liquid chromatography systems. See also Electrospray ionization and Liquid chromatography.
Data acquisition and software: Data acquisition is managed through vendor software (e.g., Xcalibur) and, in proteomics workflows, through additional platforms like Proteome Discoverer that facilitate peak picking, database searching, and result validation. See also Xcalibur and Proteome Discoverer.
MS/MS capabilities: The system supports a range of fragmentation methods, enabling peptide sequencing and structural elucidation. This includes standard collision-induced dissociation in the LTQ stage and high-energy fragmentation options compatible with proteomic and metabolomic analyses. See also Tandem mass spectrometry.
Performance and features
Resolution and mass accuracy: The Orbitrap Elite is designed to deliver high resolving power and sub-ppm to low-ppm mass accuracy under routine conditions, which enhances confidence in molecular formula assignments and reduces ambiguity in complex samples. See also Mass accuracy and High-resolution mass spectrometry.
Scan speed and duty cycle: The instrument emphasizes quick MS/MS acquisition without sacrificing high-resolution MS scans, enabling robust sampling of complex mixtures and effective use of dynamic exclusion in data-dependent workflows. See also Data-dependent acquisition.
Sensitivity and dynamic range: The Elite targets sensitive detection of abundant and low-abundance species alike, enabling deeper proteome coverage and more comprehensive metabolite profiling. See also Sensitivity (analytical chemistry).
Applications: The combination of high resolution and MS/MS makes the Orbitrap Elite well suited for proteomics, especially in identifying post-translational modifications, and for metabolomics and lipidomics studies where accurate mass is critical. See also Post-translational modification and Lipidomics.
Applications and impact
Proteomics: Researchers use the Orbitrap Elite to identify and quantify peptides with high confidence, map protein compositions in complex samples, and explore post-translational modifications. Data-driven strategies, including label-free quantitation and isotopic labeling approaches, are commonly employed in conjunction with this platform. See also Proteomics and Post-translational modification.
Metabolomics and lipidomics: In small-molecule research, the Elite supports precise mass measurements that aid in distinguishing isomers and annotating unknown metabolites, with high-resolution MS/MS enabling structural insights. See also Metabolomics and Lipidomics.
Method development and clinical research: The instrument has been used to develop and validate analytical methods that require robust performance across runs and platforms, contributing to reproducibility in research settings and, in some cases, clinical workflows. See also Clinical laboratory.