Patent ID: 6569685
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for characterizing an unknown protein molecule, said method comprising the steps of:(a) isolating the unknown protein molecule; (b) linearizing the unknown protein molecule to produce a linearized unknown protein molecule; (c) labeling said linearized unknown protein molecule to produce a labeled linearized unknown protein molecule, said step of labeling comprising the steps of: (i) attaching a first tag to each first type of amino acid residue of said linearized unknown protein molecule, said first tag causing each first type of amino acid residue in said unknown protein molecule to produce a first emitted radiation at a corresponding first emission wavelength when said linearized unknown protein molecule is exposed to a first primary excitation radiation; (ii) attaching a second tag to each second type of amino acid residue of said linearized unknown protein molecule, said second tag causing each second type of amino acid residue in said linearized unknown protein molecule to produce a second emitted radiation at a corresponding second emission wavelength when said linearized unknown protein molecule is exposed to said first emitted radiation; and (d) ascertaining for the unknown protein molecule a characterization reflective of the physical structure of the unknown protein molecule as defined by the amino acid sequence thereof, said step of ascertaining comprising the steps of: (i) exposing said labeled linearized unknown protein molecule to said first primary excitation radiation; (ii) detecting emitted radiation from said labeled linearized unknown protein molecule caused by said step of exposing; and (iii) subjecting said emitted radiation from said labeled linearized unknown protein molecule to spectral analysis, thereby producing a spectral pattern thereof, said spectral pattern of said emitted radiation comprising: (A) a first spectral pattern component at said first emission wavelength reflective of the intensity of said first emitted radiation from said first tags attached to each first type of amino acid residue of said labeled linearized unknown protein molecule exposed to said first primary excitation radiation; and (B) a second spectral pattern component at said second emission wavelength reflective of the intensity of said second emitted radiation from said second tags attached to each second type of amino acid residue of said labeled linearized unknown protein molecule exposed to said first emitted radiation.