Momentum Biotechnologies

🚨New Blog Alert 🚨     We recently shared a new blog post entitled "Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics for Covalent Lead Discovery." Inside, you'll find exciting information about the value that mass spectrometry-based proteomics can bring to your research workflow, including:     ✅ the unique therapeutic advantages of covalent drugs   ✅ the application of Intact-MS for efficient covalent screening and hit prioritization  ✅ a range of proteomic and chemoproteomic techniques that can be integrated throughout the covalent drug discovery process     Check out the full blog at: https://lnkd.in/d9Wf_fcA     And, when you're ready to talk to our scientific team about integrating these powerful approaches into your own research program, reach out at: https://lnkd.in/e6GFCEvW     #DrugDiscovery#Covalent #CovalentDrugs #CovalentDrugDiscovery #MassSpectrometry #Proteomics #Chemoproteomics #HighThroughputScreening #IntactMS 

Alongside our fleet of cutting-edge mass spectrometers, Momentum's laboratory is home to a wide variety of innovative scientific platforms that maximize our scientists' efficiency, enabling our team to consistently provide clients with the highest quality of service. One of these instruments (shown in use here) is the #AccelerOme, from Thermo Fisher Scientific.      The AccelerOme is an automated sample preparation platform that seamlessly integrates with our #Orbitrap mass spectrometers to streamline experimental workflows and facilitate high-throughput analysis – even of complex biological samples. This liquid handling robot can handle a range of sample types and volumes, making it the perfect companion for our scientists as they develop flexible assay solutions for our wide range of drug-discovery clients. This platform is especiallly useful for Tandem Mass Tagging (TMT) and label-free quantitation, facilitating multiplexed global proteomics and allowing multiple samples to be analyzed in a single experiment.       Thanks to the AccelerOme, Momentum can offer clients:   ✅ Improved accuracy and reproducibility throughout sample processing and analysis  ✅ Reduced turnaround time, especially for high-throughput experiments  ✅ Personalized proteomic and screening workflows that standardize and automate the drug discovery process  ✅ Multiplexed global proteomics to maximize the utility of each experimental run     #Proteomics #MassSpectrometry #DrugDiscovery #GlobalProteomics #Automation 

Next week (10/28-10/31), we'll be attending Hanson Wade's 7th Annual TPD & Induced Proximity Summit in our hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. We can't wait to connect with innovators across this exciting area of research and learn more about the therapeutic potential of these modalities.     Will you be attending? If so, we’d love to meet you! Send us a message at https://lnkd.in/e6GFCEvW to arrange a meeting during the conference.    #Conference #TPDandInducedProximitySummit #TPD #HansonWade #BostonBiotech

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was recently awarded to a trio of computational biologists (Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker) for their momentous contributions to protein structure prediction and computational protein design. Specifically, Hassabis and Jumper developed the groundbreaking AI-based model AlphaFold (and its successors, AlphaFold2 and 3), which predicts complex protein structures with astonishing ease and accuracy. In addition to using AlphaFold to predict protein structures and biomolecular interactions, researchers can take advantage of the AlphaFold database, which contains over 200 million predicted structures generated using the technology. Thanks to the work of these trailblazers, today's scientists are uniquely positioned to harness computational power towards the prediction of three-dimensional protein structures. How is AlphaFold used in drug discovery?  📍3D protein structures can be resolved up to an average resolution of 2 Å, with comparable accuracy to experimentally derived structures.   📍 This information allows researchers to interrogate a target protein for binding pockets, motifs, etc. that can be bound by covalent ligands or other drugs.   📍 AlphaFold significantly reduces the barrier to entry in drug development by enabling in-silico characterization of novel protein targets By facilitating the interrogation of novel targets and prediction of biomolecular interactions, AlphaFold can massively accelerate early drug discovery. Keep up the MOMENTUM of your research efforts by partnering with our team of expert scientists! We offer a variety of services that complement AlphaFold and other structural prediction models to advance the discovery and development of powerful small-molecule therapeutics, including: 📍Comprehensive cysteine site mapping to experimentally confirm the specific binding pocket of a predicted inhibitor  📍Precise quantification of small molecule adduction to further characterize binding affinity  📍Extensive screening, proteomic, and chemoproteomic offerings (powered by mass spectrometry) to provide continued analytic support throughout the drug discovery process These services were called into action for our recent collaboration with MOMA Therapeutics, presented at ASMS2024.  In this work, scientists used computational structure predictions to map dynamic helicase binding pockets, then identified covalent binders through high-throughput Intact-MS screening. After prioritizing hits by stability and specificity, the team harnessed peptide mapping techniques to empirically confirm the binding sites, occupancies, and activities.  Check out the full poster at: https://lnkd.in/dQB5wWfn     For more information on Momentum’s peptide mapping services, visit: https://lnkd.in/dsHGT5PJ    #AlphaFold #NobelPrize #Nobel #Proteomics #ProteinStructure #ComputationalBiology #AI #Chemoproteomics #PeptideMapping #CovalentMapping 

⭐Blog Highlight⭐     Before you opt for DEL-based screening in your drug discovery research, check out our most recent blog post. We highlight five key downsides of this screening approach that you may not have ever considered! Here’s a sneak peek:     🚫 Downside #3: PCR prevents accurate quantification.      💬 "[PCR limits] the quantitative capacity of DEL screens.”     💬 "Additional quantitative assays [are necessary] to effectively prioritize hits identified by DEL.”    💬 "Affinity Selection Mass Spectrometry identifies hit compounds based on molecular formula, rather than by a synthetic tag.”     Read the full post at: https://lnkd.in/dFZmjnTr  Plus, stay tuned for more DEL Downsides in the coming weeks!     #DrugDiscovery #HighThroughputScreening #DELScreening #AffinitySelectionMassSpectrometry 

We had such a great time connecting with biotech-industry friends new and old at Fenway's Mighty Squirrel Brewery and Taproom, where we co-hosted an event recently with Cube Biotech. In between new introductions and stimulating conversations (as well as plenty of pizza, tacos, and draft beers!), Can Ozbal and Barbara Maertens presented some of the exciting early results coming out of Momentum and Cube's ongoing collaboration on the membrane protein target GLP-1R .    Thanks to everyone on the Momentum, Cube, and Mighty Squirrel teams who helped make the night a success. And thanks to all of our guests for joining us – we hope you had just as much fun as we did!    #Biotech #BostonBiotech #Networking #Collaboration 

Meet the Momentum Team: Lisa Boatner, Ph.D. Tell us about your professional background. After hearing The University of Texas at Austin slogan, "what starts here changes the world," I took advantage of all the opportunities UT had to offer. I double majored in Computational Biology & Chemistry, as well as double minored in Computer Science & Business. While I was at UT, I had the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research experimentally investigating genetic mechanisms of disease, computationally analyzing the co-evolution of functionally important base pairs, and designing experiments to improve the accuracy of bioanalytical point-of-care diagnostic devices. After undergrad, I continued to implement chemical techniques to analyze biological samples as a chemistry PhD candidate at UCLA. My graduate work focused on the computational investigation of mechanisms, selectivity, and efficiency of electrophilic small molecule probes to pharmacologically manipulate disease-relevant proteins.   What initially sparked your interest in this field? As I grew up, my curiosity about genetics, nutrition, and their impact on the immune system deepened, ultimately leading me to study computational biology at UT. One day, while studying outside my introductory organic chemistry class, my professor approached me and asked if I wanted to develop molecular sensors! This encounter introduced me to analytical chemistry and inspired me to pursue a doctoral program in chemical biology, where I could integrate my interests in both chemistry and biology. Throughout my education, I have focused on building connections between various disciplines to enhance my understanding of human biology and facilitate drug development.   Describe a day in your life at Momentum. My days at Momentum begin with morning catch-up meetings with them team to align our goals. After our meeting, I analyze experimental results, diving into the data to draw insights that will help inform our client projects. Throughout the day, I dedicate time to creating comprehensive reports that highlight key findings. In addition to client work, I prioritize our internal processes, blocking out time to develop and refine our pipelines to streamline our data analysis workflows.   What makes you most excited about Momentum? I am excited about being a part of Momentum's growing proteomics group and product portfolio! I enjoy analyzing and interpreting large datasets for clients, collaborating with biologists, chemists, and engineers to advance their innovations in drug discovery and biomedical research.   What advice would you give aspiring scientists? Be proactive in pursuing your goals. If you're not getting the answers or support you need, seek out someone who can help. Building strong relationships with mentors is crucial, so find those who inspire you and can guide your journey. Take the initiative—your science and your career is in your hands!

Service Shout-Out: ICP-MS     📣 What is ICP-MS?   Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a highly sensitive elemental analysis technique that enables quantitative and qualitative determination of virtually any element or isotope.      📣 How does ICP-MS work?   In ICP-MS, the sample is aerosolized and subjected to a high-energy argon plasma, breaking it down into constituent elements which become ionized. These ions are funneled to a mass spectrometer, which separates them based on mass to charge (m/z) ratio. Finally, separated ions are detected to determine analyte concentrations. At Momentum, we operate an Agilent 8800 ICP-MS/MS, a top-of-the-line triple-quadrupole system that provides improved element coverage, accuracy, and sensitivity.      📣 What can ICP-MS do?   ICP-MS is distinguished by its extremely low detection limits, allowing accurate measurement of trace and ultra-trace elements from a variety of sample types. Analysis is rapid, and multiple elements can be measured simultaneously, making ICP-MS suitable for high-throughput and time-sensitive applications.     Our team at Momentum has used ICP-MS for a wide range of client ventures, including:   📍 determination of metallodrug pharmacokinetics   📍 characterization of zinc finger proteins  📍 analysis of trace metals from biological samples  📍 quantification of copper as a biomarker for Wilson's Disease in gene therapy studies      ICP-MS is just one of many services that our team provides! To learn more about our full range of offerings, or to discuss your project with one of our experts, visit momentum.bio    #ICP-MS #MassSpectrometry #Biomarker #MassSpec #DrugDiscovery 

PROTAC's not the only degrader in town!      While PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) are well-established as powerful tools for targeted protein degradation, here are some lesser-known technologies that have expanded the degrader toolbox in recent years:      LYTACs: lysosome-targeting chimeras that leverage the endosome-lysosome pathway to degrade extracellular and membrane proteins  AUTACs: autophagy-targeting chimeras that trigger lysosome-mediated degradation through the autophagy-lysosome pathway  ATTECs: autophagosome-tethering compounds that induce autophagic degradation of a target protein  AbTACs: antibody-based PROTACs that facilitate lysosomal degradation of cell-surface proteins  GlueTACs: PROTAC-based strategies that use GlueBody covalent nanobodies to promote lysosomal degradation of cell-surface targets      As the PROTAC alphabet expands, so do the possibilities for clinical application. These diverse protein degradation strategies enable the effective degradation of an increased range of cellular targets with more flexibility than ever before. We can't wait to see how these technologies continue to develop and transform the therapeutic landscape!      Zhao et al. Sig Trans Targ Therapy 7, 113 (2022)  Cotton et al. J Am Chem Soc 143, 593-8 (2021)   Zhang et al. J Am Chem Soc 143, 16377-92 (2021)  Banik et al. Nature 584, 291-7 (2020)  Li et al. Autophagy 1, 185-7 (2019)  Takahashi et al. Mol Cell 76, 797-810 (2019)    #PROTAC #LYTAC #AUTAC #ATTEC #AbTAC #GlueTAC #DrugDiscovery #MedicinalChemistry 

We're at ELRIG UK's Drug Discovery 2024! Make sure to stop by Booth C22 in the Exhibition Hall. That's where you can connect with the Momentum team and explore our range of drug discovery services. By combining the unmatched analytical power of mass spectrometry with expertise in high-throughput screening, proteomics, and chemoproteomics, we help clients get the answers they need rapidly and reliably. To learn more about how we can accelerate your drug discovery research, visit our booth, or contact us to arrange a consultation at momentum.bio/contact #ELRIGDD24 #ELRIG #DrugDiscovery