Strong cation exchange chromatography in analysis of posttranslational modifications: innovations and perspectives

J Biomed Biotechnol. 2011:2011:936508. doi: 10.1155/2011/936508. Epub 2011 Nov 17.

Abstract

Strong cation exchange (SCX) chromatography has been utilized as an excellent separation technique that can be combined with reversed-phase (RP) chromatography, which is frequently used in peptide mass spectrometry. Although SCX is valuable as the second component of such two-dimensional separation methods, its application goes far beyond efficient fractionation of complex peptide mixtures. Here I describe how SCX facilitates mapping of the protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs), specifically phosphorylation and N-terminal acetylation. The SCX chromatography has been mainly used for enrichment of these two PTMs, but it might also be beneficial for high-throughput analysis of other modifications that alter the net charge of a peptide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arginine / chemistry
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Cations
  • Chromatography / methods
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange / methods*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Histones / chemistry
  • Lysine / chemistry
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sulfonic Acids / chemistry

Substances

  • Cations
  • Histones
  • Peptides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • Arginine
  • Lysine