Quality Control (QC) is an indissociable part of any oligonucleotide synthesis process. All reagents used for oligo synthesis come from reliable suppliers, and each lot is extensively checked by QC prior to use.
We perform online trityl monitoring of all oligonucleotides to control coupling efficiency of each cycle. All oligos are routinely analyzed by optical density (OD260) measurement. Most unmodified and all OliGold® modified oligos are analysed by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry.
Eurogentec is also offering a unique oligonucleotide sequence determination QC service. Oligos are partially hydrolyzed using 5’>3’ and 3’>5’ phosphodiesterase exonucleases and their sequence is then unambiguously deduced by MALDI-TOF MS. The determination of an oligonucleotide’s sequence is not only very useful to assess the quality of the synthesis but it is also requested by the FDA for therapeutic oligonucleotides used and for oligonucleotides in approved genotyping kits.
What is MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry ?
MALDI-TOF MS (matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry) is an analytical method that allows the detection of the composition of various biological components, such as oligonucleotides. The sample is embedded in a matrix on a metal surface. Inside the instrument, it is desorbed into the gazeous phase by a laser beam. An electrical field accelerates the ions. The analytes are classified by their weight, which is determined by the period of time it takes to pass across the drift tube.
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