Identification of ligands for orphan receptors using on-line coupling of mass spectrometry to continuous-flow separation techniques

摘要

The present invention relates to the on-line coupling of mass spectrometry (MS) to continuous-flow separation techniques for detecting 'orphan' analytes, viz. receptors which do not have known ligands. In a further embodiment, this on-line detection method is used as either a screening method for assays with an unknown ligand. Furthermore, this invention relates to compounds detected by this method and the use of these compounds as a ligand for affinity molecules.