JPH0590367U - Amino acid sequence analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To simplify the handling of glass fiber filters. [Structure] In a filter cartridge 1 of an amino acid sequence analyzer 20, a housing 3 has a central filter space 2 and an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 communicating with one end and the other end of the filter space 2. , The whole is integrally formed. The Teflon sheet 4 and the filter 5 are arranged in the filter space 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an amino acid sequence analyzer.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, an amino acid structure analyzer is used to determine the amino acid sequence of a protein (or peptide). In the amino acid structure analyzer, a reagent and a solvent are injected into the sample, and the N-terminal of the amino acid in the sample is taken out by the Edman reaction for analysis / identification. The sample is usually fixed on a disk-shaped glass fiber filter fixed between the inlet and outlet of the reagent and solvent (for example, JP-A-4-94697).

In this type of amino acid sequence analyzer, the operation relating to the glass fiber filter is generally performed as follows. First, a disk-shaped glass fiber filter is placed on a Teflon filter, and polybrene (adsorbent) is applied to the filter. The filter is installed inside a block having a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and the filter and Teflon filter are washed with a solvent. Then open the block and add the sample onto the filter. Then, the block body is assembled again, and the reagent / solvent is flown into the sample on the filter to cause the reaction.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 With the above configuration, the disassembly and assembly of the block body must be repeated during the preparation operation, and the operation is complicated. Moreover, since the glass fiber filter used is composed of fine fibers, it is easily detached during handling, and since trace substances are detected, external contamination must be prevented. Therefore, it must be handled with extreme caution.

An object of the present invention is to simplify the handling of glass fiber filters.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The amino acid sequence analyzer according to the present invention has a filter cartridge including a housing, a Teflon filter, and a glass fiber filter. The housing has a central filter space, a sample inlet and a sample outlet communicating with one end and the other end of the filter space, and is integrally formed as a whole. The outer circumference of the Teflon filter is held by the housing in the filter space. The glass fiber filter is superposed on the Teflon filter in the filter space.

[0007]

[Action]

 In the amino acid sequence analyzer according to the present invention, the entire housing is integrally formed, and the Teflon filter and the glass fiber filter are housed therein. Therefore, the Teflon filter and the glass fiber filter are tweezers or the like. There is no need to handle in. Moreover, since the Teflon filter and the glass fiber filter are always housed in the housing, they are less susceptible to contamination.

Here, the sample introduction port is connected to the reagent supply unit, and the reagent and the sample are added to the glass filter through the sample introduction port. Further, the sample outlet is connected to the amino acid sequence analyzer, and the sample discharged from the sample outlet is analyzed. After the analysis, the Teflon filter and the glass fiber filter will be replaced with new ones for each housing.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the operability of the filter is improved and the filter is less likely to be contaminated, the filter can be easily handled.

[0010]

【Example】

 1 and 2 show a filter cartridge 1 used in an embodiment of the present invention. The filter cartridge 1 includes a housing 3 having a filter space 2 therein, a Teflon filter 4 and a glass fiber filter 5 arranged in the filter space 3.

The housing 3 is a substantially disc-shaped member, and has a pair of cylindrical portions 6 and 7 integrally projecting in the vertical direction at the center thereof. Inside the cylindrical portion 6, there is provided a sample introduction port 8 that communicates the filter space 2 on the glass fiber filter 5 side with the outside. A sample discharge port 9 is provided in the cylindrical portion 7 for communicating the filter space 2 on the Teflon filter 4 side with the outside. The sample inlet 8 and the sample outlet 9 have taper surfaces that expand in diameter outward from the filter space 2 side.

The housing 3 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene, and the upper half portion and the lower half portion thereof are heat-sealed at the outer peripheral edge portion to be integrally formed as a whole. .. The outer peripheral edge of the Teflon filter 4 is fixed to the housing 3 by being embedded in the housing 3 when it is heat-sealed, whereby the Teflon filter 4 divides the filter space 2 into two parts. A glass fiber filter 5 is superposed on the side surface of the sample introduction port 8 of the Teflon filter 4.

FIG. 3 shows a state of the filter cartridge 1 before use. Before use, the filter cartridge 1 is stored in a sealed bag 10 made of a sterilized sheet. The filter cartridge 1 is transported and stored while being sterilized and stored in the bag 10. When using, the filter cartridge 1 is taken out from the bag 10 by breaking the bag 10.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show an example of an amino acid sequence analyzer (protein sequencer) 20 in which the filter cartridge 1 is used. The amino acid sequence analysis device 20 mainly includes a first reagent supply unit 21, a second reagent supply unit 22, a conversion flask 23, and a PTH-amino acid sequence analysis device 24. The filter cartridge 1 is set in the amino acid sequence analyzer 20 between the first reagent supply unit 21 and the conversion flask 23.

The first reagent supply unit 21 has a bottle in which various reagents are stored and various solenoid valves for supplying arbitrary reagents and inert gas in the bottle. A liquid detection sensor 26 is provided in the reagent introduction pipe 25 of the first reagent supply unit 21 with respect to the filter cartridge 1. A taper member 26 shown in FIG. 6 is attached to the tip of the sample introduction tube 25. The outer peripheral surface of the taper member 26 is a taper surface that reduces in diameter toward the tip, so that the taper member 26 can coincide with the taper surface of the sample introduction port 8 of the filter cartridge 1.

On the other hand, the sample discharge port 9 of the filter cartridge 1 can be fitted with the upstream end of the sample moving pipe 27 communicating with the conversion flask 23 (FIG. 5). At the upstream end of the sample moving tube 27, a taper member 28 having a tapered surface that matches the tapered surface of the sample outlet 9 is attached. The sample moving tube 27 is further provided with a liquid detection sensor 29 and a flow path switching valve 30 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the conversion flask 23, in addition to the sample moving pipe 27, a reagent introducing pipe 31 for introducing a reagent from the second reagent supplying section 22 and a gas exhaust having a solenoid valve. The pipe 32 is connected. The reagent introducing pipe 31 is provided with a pair of liquid detection sensors 33 and 34. A sample introducing pipe 35 for introducing a sample into the amino acid analyzer 24 is connected to the lower end of the conversion flask 23. The sample introduction pipe 35 has a switching valve 36.

The second reagent supply unit 22 has bottles of various reagents to be supplied to the conversion flask 23 and various electromagnetic valves for supplying arbitrary reagents or an inert gas to the conversion flask 23. .. The amino acid analyzer 24 has a hexagonal valve 38. One end of the sample introducing pipe 35 is connected to the hexagonal valve 38. A pump 43, a column 39, a detector 41 and a fraction collector 40 for high performance liquid chromatography are connected to the hexagonal valve 38. Further, the detector 41 is connected to the data processing device 42.

The amino acid sequence analyzer 20 is configured such that a solenoid valve, a flow path switching valve, etc. are automatically controlled by a control unit (not shown). Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the filter cartridge 1 is set in the amino acid sequence analyzer 20, the filter cartridge 1 stored in the bag 10 in a sterilized state as shown in FIG. 3 is taken out by breaking the bag 10. When adding polybrene or a reagent to the filter cartridge 1, the sample is introduced through the sample introduction port 8. When the filter cartridge 1 is connected to the sample introducing pipe 25 and the sample moving pipe 27 of the amino acid sequence analyzer 20, as shown in FIG. 6, the taper members 26 and 28 have tapered sample introducing ports. 8 and the sample discharge port 9 are used.

Here, since the Teflon filter 4 and the glass fiber filter 5 are always stored in the housing 3 formed integrally, the Teflon filter 4 and the glass fiber filter 5 are handled with tweezers or the like. It is not necessary and less susceptible to external pollution. Further, when the filter cartridge 1 is attached to or detached from the amino acid sequence analyzer 20, it is only necessary to insert and remove the taper members 26 and 29 into and from the tapered sample inlet 8 and sample outlet 9. Easy to operate.

When the analysis by the amino acid sequence analyzer 20 is completed and the next sample is to be analyzed, the taper members 26 and 28 are removed from the used filter cartridge 1 and the new filter cartridge 1 is removed. The replacement work is completed simply by inserting the taper members 26 and 28. Therefore, the replacement work can be easily performed. Note that polybrene or a sample may be added to the filter 5 in advance by using a large number of filter cartridges 1, and then the analysis may be continuously performed by the analyzer 20, so that the analysis can be performed efficiently. Further, the filter cartridge 1 can be held with polybrene or a sample added.

[0022]

[Effect of the device]

 In the amino acid sequence analyzer according to the present invention, since the Teflon filter and the glass fiber filter are housed in the integrally formed housing, the operability of the filter is improved and the filter is less likely to be contaminated. As a result, the handling of the glass fiber filter is simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state before use.

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial configuration diagram of an example of an amino acid sequence analyzer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration partial view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a filter cartridge portion of the amino acid sequence analyzer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Filter Cartridge 2 Filter Space 3 Housing 4 Teflon Filter 5 Glass Fiber Filter 8 Sample Inlet 9 Sample Outlet 20 Amino Acid Sequence Analyzer

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A housing having a central filter space and a sample inlet and a sample outlet communicating with one end and the other end of the filter space, which are integrally formed as a whole, and the housing in the filter space. An amino acid sequence analyzer having a filter cartridge including a Teflon filter whose outer peripheral portion is held in a housing, and a glass fiber filter which is superposed on the Teflon filter in the filter space.