A simple and inexpensive approach to interfacing high-performance liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Proteomics. 2004 Oct;4(10):3121-7. doi: 10.1002/pmic.200300843.

Abstract

The ability to obtain the accurate mass of a protein in a complex sample mixture aids in determining its correct in vivo form. This is important when identifying post-translationally modified proteins, protein variants or isoforms. The central technique used to separate proteins, 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis offers excellent separation capabilities but does not provide adequate mass accuracy. In this study, an alternative method, liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF)-MS (LC-MALDI) is described. LC-MALDI-MS was used to separate and determine the mass of proteins and peptides in a complex biological sample (i.e., human pituitary gland homogenate). Peptides and proteins were first separated by capillary chromatography and the eluent mixed post-column with sinapinic acid matrix. The flow was then deposited directly onto a standard MALDI target via a capillary nebulizer. In addition to offering high mass accuracy, this method can be applied to peptide and protein quantification.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography / methods
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / economics*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / methods
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Software
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / economics*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*
  • Statistics as Topic

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Protein Isoforms