Microscale sample deposition onto hydrophobic target plates for trace level detection of neuropeptides in brain tissue by MALDI-MS

A sample preparation method that combines a modified target plate with a nanoscale reversed-phase column (nanocolumn) was developed for detection of neuropeptides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). A gold-coated MALDI plate was modified with an octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayer to create a hydrophobic surface that could concentrate peptide samples into a approximately 200-500-microm diameter spot. The spot sizes generated were comparable to those obtained for a substrate patterned with 200-microm hydrophilic spots on a hydrophobic substrate. The sample spots on the ODT-coated plate were 100-fold smaller than those formed on an unmodified gold plate with a 1-microl sample and generated 10 to 50 times higher mass sensitivity for peptide standards by MALDI-TOF MS. When the sample was deposited on an ODT-modified plate from a nanocolumn, the detection limit for peptides was as low as 20 pM for 5-microl samples corresponding to 80 amol deposited. This technique was used to analyze extracts of microwave-fixed tissue from rat brain striatum. Ninety-eight putative peptides were detected including several that had masses matching neuropeptides expected in this brain region such as substance P, rimorphin, and neurotensin. Twenty-three peptides had masses that matched peaks detected by capillary liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization MS.     

Profiling and comprehensive expression analysis of ABC transporter solute-binding proteins of Bacillus subtilis membrane based on a proteomic approach

We analyzed ABC transporter solute-binding proteins (SBPs) of the Bacillus subtilis membrane using a proteomic approach. We prepared a washed cell membrane fraction that was insoluble in 134 mM nondetergent sulfobetaine and then extracted proteins using mixtures of detergents in a stepwise manner. The membrane proteins were resolved by three two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) or two one-dimensional (1-D) PAGE procedures, electroblotted, and digested in the presence of 5% or 80% acetonitrile. Thereafter, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identified 637 proteins corresponding to 15.9% of the total cellular proteins. We predicted that among these, 256 were membrane proteins, 101 were lipoproteins or secretory proteins and 280 were soluble proteins containing peripheral proteins that function in both the cytoplasm and the cell membrane such as SecA and FtsY. Among the 637 proteins, we identified 30 SBPs among 38 importers predicted by a bioinformatic search of the genome. We confirmed expression of the genes for the 30 SBPs using DNA microarray analysis. We compared the 2-D gel separation profiles of submembrane fractions solubilized by 1% n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside from cells cultured on Luria Bertani (LB), S7, and S7 medium without glutamate as well as DNA microarray data on LB and S7. The results suggested that YcdH, YtmK and YurO are binding proteins for Mn(++), glutamate and glucose, respectively, and that YqiX and YxeM are binding proteins for amino acids (tryptophan in S7 medium).     

In-gel deglycosylation of sodiumdodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-separated glycoproteins for carbohydrate estimation by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Mass determination by mass spectrometric methods (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS)) of sodiumdodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)-separated proteins is a well known procedure and reliable protocols are available. In our efforts to use the established methods to determine the molecular mass of the disulfide bridged, heterodimeric glycoprotein GP3 and to determine the carbohydrate content of each protein subunit we developed an in-gel chemical deglycosylation method. For this purpose we established experimental conditions that allow maximum extraction of the high molecular mass protein subunits and developed a routine method to apply the HF-pyridine deglycosylation protocol to proteins isolated from polyacrylamide gel pieces. The novel protocol and extraction procedure described can be used to analyze O-glycosylated proteins up to 150 kDa after SDS-PAGE separation.     

Effects of different alkali metal ions on the cationization of poly(ethylene glycol)s in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: a new selectivity parameter

The cationization of poly(ethylene glycol)s, PEG 4000 and PEG 6000, under matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization conditions was studied by using different concentration ratios of the sodium ion, as the reference ion, and another alkali metal ion (Li(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+)). A linear correlation was found between the intensity ratio of the sodiated PEGs and PEGs cationized with alkali metal ions versus the initial concentration ratio of sodium and alkali metal ions. The slopes of these straight lines are proposed as a novel selectivity ratio for the ionization process. The intensity distribution of the cationized PEGs was also investigated. It was found that the cationized oligomers follow Poisson statistics. The M(n) and M(w) values were also evaluated. An explanation for the observed effects is given.     

Determination of aniline in silica gel sorbent by one-step in situ microwave-assisted desorption coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction and GC-FID

Microwave-assisted desorption (MAD) coupled to in situ headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was first proposed as a possible alternative pretreatment of samples in absorbent collected from workplace monitoring. Aniline collected on silica gel was investigated. Under microwave irradiation, the aniline was desorbed from silica gel and directly absorbed onto the SPME fiber in the headspace. Having been sampled on the SPME fiber, and desorbed in the GC injection port, aniline was analyzed using a GC-FID system. Parameters that affect the proposed extraction efficiency, including the extraction media and its pH, the microwave irradiation power and the irradiation time as well as desorption parameters of the GC injector, were investigated. Experimental results revealed that the extraction of a 150-mg silica gel sample using a 0.8-ml aqueous solution (pH 12) and a PDMS/DVB fiber under medium-high-powered irradiation (345 W) for 3 min maximized the efficiency of extraction. Desorption of aniline from the SPME fiber was optimal at 230 °C held for 3 min. The detection limit was 0.09 ng. The proposed method provided a simple, fast, and organic solvent-free procedure to analyze aniline from a silica gel matrix.     

Advanced Methodologies for Adsorption/Thermal Desorption with Tenax-TA for the Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Sulfur Compounds

We have evaluated an analytical method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and sulfur compounds in air by means of adsorption/temperature-programmed thermal desorption (ATPTD) with small bed volume (0.08g) Tenax-TA cartridges, followed by a cryogenic trap in a precolumn with liquid nitrogen as an appropriate concentration method before capillary gas chromatography is described. The enriched components from the adsorption cartridges are transferred to the capillary column with a valveless switching system. Recoveries were determined for the complete ATPTD method. Desorption recoveries near 100% were found for various of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds. The sulfur compounds known to cause nuisance odors in the atmosphere near sulfur recovery and sewerage treatment works were also determined.     

固相萃取搅拌棒萃取-气相色谱分析海水中的多环芳烃

利用固相萃取搅拌棒（SBSE）萃取海水中的多环芳烃，然后用热解吸脱附-气相色谱分析。研究了萃取时间、添加NaCl浓度对萃取效率的影响。实验结果表明，SBSE方法对16种多环芳烃的萃取回收率分别在33．5％～122．4％之间；对标准样品的检出限为2．74-13．5ng／L；方法RSD为3．8％～13．1％。用此方法测定了大连海岸海水中的多环芳烃含量。     

人参皂苷的基质辅助激光解吸质谱研究

利用MALDI-TOFMS测定了八种人参皂苷的分子量, 并分析了西洋参总皂苷的组成。同时, 进行了灵敏度实验, 并探讨了基质及碱金属离子的影响, 证明该方法灵敏度高, 重复性好, 结果准确。是测定极性小分子分子量的有效方法。     

醇在α-A12O3和硅胶G表面上的脱附规律

吸附质在两相界面上的吸附行为对多相催化、界面化学等有重要意义[1,2]。本文采用程序升温法分别测定了13种醇在α Al2O3和硅胶G表面上的脱附温度td,发现td与醇的沸点及烷基化效应指数[3](PEI)有定量关系。1　实验红外干燥箱100℃干燥30分钟后的吸附剂在所研究的吸附质的饱和蒸汽压、室温下平衡24-48h,以达到吸附平衡;取20-25mg吸附平衡后的吸附剂,用PCT 1A型差热天平进行TG/DTA分析,升温速率为2 5℃/min,升温范围从室温到250℃,由计算机进行数据采集(RSZ 200热分析系统软件),从DTA曲线的最高峰值确定脱附温度,每个样品重复3-5…     

Identification of low molecular weight proteins isolated by 2-D liquid separations

Proteins with molecular mass (M(r)) <20 kDa are often poorly separated in 2-D sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, low-M(r) proteins may not be readily identified using peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) owing to the small number of peptides generated in tryptic digestion. In this work, we used a 2-D liquid separation method based on chromatofocusing and non-porous silica reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography to purify proteins for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOFMS) analysis and protein identification. Several proteins were identified using the PMF method where the result was supported using an accurate M(r) value obtained from electrospray ionization TOFMS. However, many proteins were not identified owing to an insufficient number of peptides observed in the MALDI-TOF experiments. The small number of peptides detected in MALDI-TOFMS can result from internal fragmentation, the few arginines in its sequence and incomplete tryptic digestion. MALDI-QTOFMS/MS can be used to identify many of these proteins. The accurate experimental M(r) and pI confirm identification and aid in identifying post-translational modifications such as truncations and acetylations. In some cases, high-quality MS/MS data obtained from the MALDI-QTOF spectrometer overcome preferential cleavages and result in protein identification.