Protein characterization system

A system for identifying a selected protein molecule in a sample containing a plurality of protein molecules, the selected protein molecule including at least one amino acid residue of a first type and at least one amino acid residue of a second type, said system comprising:

• (a) denaturation means for linearizing the protein molecules in the sample;
• (b) isolation means for separating the selected protein molecule from other protein molecules in the sample;
• (c) labeling means for attaching a tag to the amino acid residue of the first type in the protein molecule;
• (d) detector means for determining a fingerprint for the selected protein molecule, said fingerprint comprising:
• (i) a first fingerprint constituent imparted to the selected protein molecule by said first tag when said tag is attached by said labeling means to the amino acid residue of the first type in the protein molecule;
• and
• (ii) a second fingerprint constituent imparted to the selected protein molecule by the amino acid residue of the second type in the protein molecule;
• and
• (e) collation means for comparing said fingerprint to a library of fingerprints for known protein molecules.

A system for determining a fingerprint of a protein molecule having a first type of amino acid residue and a second type of amino acid residue, said system comprising:

• (a) a protein molecule linearization region;
• (b) a tag attachment region, said tag attachment region being in fluid association with said linearization region, in said tag attachment region a tag becoming attached to each first type of amino acid residue in the protein molecule;
• and
• (c) a detector region in fluid association with and located downstream of said linearization region and said tag attachment region, in said detector region constituents of the fingerprint of the protein molecule being sensed, said constituents of the fingerprint of the protein molecule comprising:
• (i) a first fingerprint constituent of the fingerprint of the protein molecule imparted to the protein molecule by said tag;
• and
• (ii) a second fingerprint constituent of the fingerprint of the protein molecule imparted to the protein molecule by the second type of amino acid residue in the protein molecule.

A protein molecule having an identifiable fingerprint, said protein molecule comprising:

• (a) a first amino acid residue, said first amino acid residue being of a first type;
• (b) a first tag attached to said first amino acid residue of said protein molecule, said first tag imparting to said protein molecule a first fingerprint constituent;
• (c) a second amino acid residue, said second amino acid residue being of a second type;
• and
• (d) a second tag attached to said second amino acid residue of the protein molecule, said second tag imparting to said protein molecule a second fingerprint constituent.

A fingerprint for a protein molecule, the protein molecule including at least one first amino acid residue of a first type, at least one second amino acid residue of a second type, and at least one tryptophan amino acid residue, said fingerprint comprising:

• (a) a first fingerprint constituent imparted to said protein molecule by a first tag on each first amino acid residue, said first fingerprint constituent comprising emitted radiation of a first wavelength produced by said first tag when said first tag is stimulated with a first primary excitation radiation;
• (b) a second fingerprint constituent imparted to said protein molecule by a second tag on each second amino acid residue, said second fingerprint constituent comprising emitted radiation of a second wavelength produced by said second tag when said second tag is stimulated with a second primary excitation radiation;
• (c) a third fingerprint constituent imparted to said protein molecule by said first tag on each first amino acid residue, said third fingerprint constituent comprising a first secondary emitted radiation of said first wavelength produced by said first tag when said first tag is stimulated by said emitted radiation of said second wavelength;
• (d) a fourth fingerprint constituent imparted to said protein molecule by each tryptophan amino acid residue, said fourth fingerprint constituent comprising emitted radiation of a third wavelength produced by the tryptophan amino acid residue when the said tryptophan amino acid residue is stimulated with a third primary excitation radiation;
• (e) a fifth fingerprint constituent imparted to said protein molecule by said second tag on each second amino acid residue, said fifth fingerprint constituent comprising a secondary emitted radiation of said second wavelength produced by said second tag when said second tag is stimulated by said emitted radiation of said third wavelength;
• and
• (f) a sixth fingerprint constituent imparted to said protein molecule by said first tag on each first amino acid residue, said sixth fingerprint comprising a second secondary emitted radiation of said first wavelength produced by said first tag when said first tag is stimulated by said secondary emitted radiation of said second wavelength.

A library of fingerprint values for a set of known protein molecules, said library comprising:

• (a) a listing of the identity of each protein molecule of the set of known protein molecules;
• (b) a first fingerprint constituent corresponding to each of said protein molecules of the set of known protein molecules, said first fingerprint constituent being representative of the number and sequence of a first type of amino acid residue in each of said protein molecules of the set of known protein molecules;
• and
• (c) a second fingerprint constituent corresponding to each of said protein molecules of the set of known protein molecules, said second fingerprint constituent representative of the number and sequence of a second type of amino acid residue in each of said protein molecules of the set of known protein molecules.