Baltimore– Bruker Corporation has announced the launch of its groundbreaking timsOmni™ mass spectrometer at the 73rd Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics (ASMS), marking a major leap forward in the field of functional proteomics. Designed to deliver unprecedented depth, speed, and flexibility in protein analysis, the new system combines Bruker’s high-performance timsTOF technology with the advanced capabilities of the Omnitrap module, enabling a new paradigm in the identification and characterization of proteoforms.
The timsOmni platform is engineered for deep structural and functional insights into proteins, including those affected by post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and glycosylation. It enables top-down sequencing with high sensitivity, precision, and flexibility—capabilities that are critical for advancing research in disease mechanisms, therapeutic development, and bioprocessing quality control.
Among its innovations, the timsOmni introduces multimodal electron-induced and collision-induced ion fragmentation, offering what Bruker describes as “Swiss Army knife” flexibility for next-generation proteomics. This functionality allows researchers to dissect proteins with a high level of detail, revealing PTMs and structural variants that may be implicated in diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disorders.
One of the most significant features is the system’s ability to achieve up to 100% sequence coverage for complex proteoforms, such as modified histones, with precise control over electron energy and reaction conditions. These capabilities are particularly important for mapping modifications that alter chromatin structure and influence gene expression.
The timsOmni also supports collision-induced unfolding (CIU), enhancing the interpretation of ion mobility-derived structural data. It is complemented by Bruker’s new OmniScape™ software, a powerful tool for top-down sequencing that uses machine learning to improve de-isotoping, charge state assignment, de novo sequencing, and PTM localization.
Researchers and industry leaders have already noted the platform’s impact. Anders Giessing, Ph.D., Science Manager at Novonesis, said the timsOmni redefines top-down protein analysis with the precision and speed needed for analytical support in enzyme development. Prof. Albert Heck of Utrecht University described the system as a new standard for “protein-centric” proteomics, enabling comprehensive plasma antibody profiling and de novo sequencing crucial for disease monitoring and immunity assessment.
Bruker CEO Frank H. Laukien, Ph.D., characterized the timsOmni as “a new lamppost for functional protein science,” offering unprecedented insights into protein structure and function relevant to both fundamental biology and applied research in biopharma. The platform is expected to be especially valuable for therapeutic antibody development and the quality control of biologics, including antibody-drug conjugates.
The system also features Bruker’s NEOS nanoESI source, which accommodates extremely low flow rates for analyzing scarce samples and protein complexes, and maintains compatibility with the high-throughput 4D-proteomics performance of the timsTOF Ultra 2.
With the launch of timsOmni, Bruker is positioning itself at the forefront of a new era in functional proteomics—what it calls “proteoformics”—focused on illuminating the diverse and complex roles of proteins in health, disease, and therapeutic development.
