Identification and quantification of amyloid beta-related peptides in human plasma using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-secretase and γ-secretase leads to the generation and deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). N-terminally or C-terminally truncated Aβ variants have been found in human cerebrospinal fluid and cultured cell media using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. Unfortunately, the profile of plasma Aβ variants has not been revealed due to the difficulty of isolating Aβ from plasma. We present here for the first time studies of Aβ and related peptides in human plasma. Twenty-two Aβ-related peptides including novel peptides truncated before the β-secretase site were detected in human plasma and 20 of the peptides were identified by tandem mass spectrometry. Using an internal standard, we developed a quantitative assay for the Aβ-related peptides and demonstrated plasma dilution linearity and the precision required for their quantitation. The present method should enhance the understanding of APP processing and clearance in AD progression.     

A ToF-SIMS and XPS study of protein adsorption and cell attachment across PEG-like plasma polymer films with lateral compositional gradients

In this work we report a detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) study of poly(ethylene glycol) PEG-like chemical gradients deposited via plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) at two different load powers using diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DG) as a monomer. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the ToF-SIMS data both before and after protein adsorption on the plasma polymer thin films. Results of the PCA loadings indicated a higher content of hydrocarbon fragments across the higher load power gradient, which adsorbed higher amounts of proteins. Gradients deposited at a lower load power retained a higher degree of monomer like functionality as did the central region directly underneath the knife edge electrode. Analysis of the adsorption of serum proteins (human serum albumin and fetal bovine serum) was monitored across the gradient films and increased with decreasing ether (PEG-like) film chemistries. The effect of protein incubation time on the levels adsorbed fetal bovine serum on the plasma polymer films was critical, with significantly more protein adsorbing after 24 hour incubation times on both gradient films. The attachment of HeLa cells on the gradients appeared to be dictated not only by the surface chemistry, but also by the adsorption of serum proteins. XPS analysis revealed that at surface ether concentrations of less than 70% in the gradient films, significant increases in protein and cell attachment were observed.     

Analysis of cancer cell lipids using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization 15-T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

A combination of methodologies using the extremely high mass accuracy and resolution of 15-T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS) was introduced for the identification of intact cancer cell phospholipids. Lipids from a malignant glioma cell line were initially analyzed at a resolution of >200,000 and identified by setting the mass tolerance to ±1 mDa using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) 15-T FT-ICR MS in positive ion mode. In most cases, a database search of potential lipid candidates using the exact masses of the lipids yielded only one possible chemical composition. Extremely high mass accuracy (<0.1?ppm) was then attained by using previously identified lipids as internal standards. This, combined with an extremely high resolution (>800,000), yielded well-resolved isotopic fine structures allowing for the identification of lipids by MALDI 15-T FT-ICR MS without using tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis. Using this method, a total of 38 unique lipids were successfully identified.     

Mineralogical analysis of auriferous ores from the El Diamante mine, Colombia

X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectrometry (MS), secondary ions mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and laser-ablation microprobe–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LAM–ICP–MS) were used to study mineral samples of Colombian auriferous ores collected from the “El Diamante” mine, located in the municipality of Guachavez-Nariño, in Colombia. The samples were prepared as polished thin sections and polished sections. From XRD data, quartz, sphalerite and pyrite were detected and their respective cell parameters were estimated. From MS analyses, pyrite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite were identified; their respective hyperfine parameters and respective texture were deduced. Multiple regions of approximately 200 × 200 μm in each sample were analyzed with SIMS; the occurrence of “invisible gold” associated mainly with pyrite and secondarily with arsenopyrite could thus be assigned. It was also found that pyrite is of the arsenious type. Spots from 30 to 40 μm in diameter were analyzed with LAM–ICP–MS for pyrite, arsenopyrite and sphalerite; Au is “homogeneously” distributed inside the structure of the arsenious pyrite and the arsenopyrite (not as inclusions); the chemical composition indicates similarities of this “invisible gold”, forming a solid solution with arsenious pyrite and arsenopyrite. One hundred nineteen and 62 ppm of ‘invisible gold’ was quantified in 21 spots analyzed on pyrite and in 14 spots on arsenopyrite, respectively.     

Determination of arsenic species in mainstream cigarette smoke based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

In this work, arsenic species in mainstream cigarette smoke condensates was systemically studied with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was utilized for analysis of the physical forms of arsenic, and no particle arsenic was observed in mainstream cigarette smoke condensates. The solvent extraction experiments proved that the water-soluble arsenic was the main species in mainstream cigarette smoke condensates, which was consistent with the result of single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Furthermore, speciation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid was investigated using high performance weak anion exchange chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection. The developed high performance liquid chromatography coupled inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method was successfully applied to the determination of arsenic species in mainstream cigarette smoke condensates with satisfactory recoveries. Four arsenic species were detected in the mainstream cigarette smoke condensates from four brands of commercial available cigarettes, and there was a great difference between the arsenic content and composition among the different brands of cigarettes. It is found that arsenate was the main species in all tested cigarette samples.     

Mass Spectrometry Profiling of the Protein Composition of Blood Plasma of Colorectal Cancer Patients

The objective of the study is themass spectrometry analysis of the protein composition in blood plasma samples of large intestine cancer patients. Protein profiles of 58 blood plasma samples of large intestine cancer patients and healthy volunteers are analyzed using ultrahigh-resolution panoramic mass spectrometry. It is shown that the coincidence of identifications in the protein composition samples of intestine cancer patients and healthy men is 60–80%. Samples of intestines cancer patients contain proteins involved in the interaction with ribonucleic acid, proteins, and lowmolecular substrata.     

微波消解/电感耦合等离子体质谱测定鹿骨粉中微量元素

采用HNO₃-H₂O₂ 微波溶样、电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定了鹿骨粉中的微量元素。在优化的实验条件下,方法的检出限(3σ, n=11)为0.000 6～1.498 ng·mL-1;标准加入回收率为91％～109％,相对标准偏差为1.7％～6.8％。对国家标准物质样品分析的结果与所给参考值吻合。     

竹炭分离富集铋及氢化物发生原子荧光和等离子体质谱法测定

以竹炭为固相萃取材料,建立了顺序注射在线微填充柱固相萃取分离富集痕量铋的方法,吸附在微填充柱上的铋(络合物)可用稀硝酸溶液(2.5 mol·L-1)洗脱回收.洗脱液与硼氢化钠溶液混合进行氢化物发生(HG)反应,氢化物经气液分离后与原子荧光(AFS)联用,或直接将洗脱液引入电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS),实现了对生...     

棘胸蛙不同发育阶段肌肉差异蛋白的质谱分析

利用串联质谱对棘胸蛙的不同发育阶段个显著差异的肌肉蛋白质进行分析,根据质谱数据搜索蛋白数据库成功获得蛋白信息.构建了适应于质谱鉴定的棘胸蛙肌肉蛋白样处理方法,为进一步深入研究影响棘胸蛙发育的蛋白质奠定了基础.     

An online nano-LC-ESI-FTICR-MS method for comprehensive characterization of endogenous fragments from amyloid β and amyloid precursor protein in human and cat cerebrospinal fluid

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is the precursor protein to amyloid β (Aβ), the main constituent of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Endogenous Aβ peptides reflect the APP processing, and greater knowledge of different APP degradation pathways is important to understand the mechanism underlying AD pathology. When one analyzes longer Aβ peptides by low-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), mainly long b-fragments are observed, limiting the possibility to determine variations such as amino acid variants or post-translational modifications (PTMs) within the N-terminal half of the peptide. However, by using electron capture dissociation (ECD), we obtained a more comprehensive sequence coverage for several APP/Aβ peptide species, thus enabling a deeper characterization of possible variants and PTMs. Abnormal APP/Aβ processing has also been described in the lysosomal storage disease Niemann-Pick type C and the major large animal used for studying this disease is cat. By ECD MS/MS, a substitution of Asp7 → Glu in cat Aβ was identified. Further, sialylated core 1 like O-glycans at Tyr10, recently discovered in human Aβ (a previously unknown glycosylation type), were identified also in cat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is therefore likely that this unusual type of glycosylation is common for (at least) species belonging to the magnorder Boreoeutheria. We here describe a detailed characterization of endogenous APP/Aβ peptide species in CSF by using an online top-down MS-based method.     

Use of Soft Plasma Ionization Source at Evacuated Air Atmospheres in Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry to Suppress Fragmentation of Volatile Organic Compounds

This study describes a measuring system for mass spectrometry, consisting of a glow discharge ionization source for soft plasma ionization and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, to detect toxic volatile organic compounds rapidly and easily. It is the most important to determine how the complicated fragmentation of such compounds can be suppressed to occur so as to recognize the mass spectra of the volatile organic compounds as their fingerprints. The novelty of this work is that the optimal discharge condition for the soft plasma ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometer system could be selected, so that the parent mass peak of analyte molecules could be observed both with high sensitivity and with little or no fragmentation of them. Use of air gas at a pressure of 1000 Pa provided the most favorable result for these criteria, whereas, in a previous report, the soft plasma ionization source operating with argon at a pressure of 346 Pa had yielded additional mass peaks of the fragmented species. The reason for this would be explained by the fact that energetic electrons in the plasma, which principally cause the fragmentation of the volatile organic compounds, have lower number density at higher gas pressures, through de-accelerated collisions with the plasma gas.     

The detection of nicotine in a Late Mayan period flask by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods

Several ancient Mayan vessels from the Kislak Collection of the US Library of Congress were examined for the presence of alkaloids. One of them, a codex-style flask, bears a text that appears to read yo-'OTOT-ti 'u-MAY, spelling y-otoot 'u-may 'the home of its/his/her tobacco'. Samples extracted from this Late Classic period (600 to 900?AD) container were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods. Nicotine was identified as the major component of the extracts. LC/MS analyses also yielded signals due to nicotine mono-oxides. The identities of the compounds were determined by comparison of the chromatographic and/or mass spectral characteristics with those from standards and literature data. High-resolution high mass accuracy tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectra of protonated nicotine and nicotine mono-oxides were measured to verify and to correct previous product ion assignments. These analyses provided positive evidence for nicotine from a Mayan vessel, indicating it as a likely holder of tobacco leafs. The result of this investigation is the first physical evidence of tobacco from a Mayan container, and only the second example where the vessel content recorded in a Mayan hieroglyphic text has been confirmed directly by chromatography/mass spectrometry trace analysis.     

辽宁地区部分粮食中元素含量的测定及聚类分析

分析辽宁地区常见杂粮中的元素含量,研究杂粮中元素含量与其种类之间的相关性,以期为杂粮的分类和营养评价提供一种新的方法.采用微波消解处理样品,电感耦合等离子体-质谱法(ICP-MS)测定19种粮食中14种元素的含量,用统计软件(SPSS11.5)进行系统聚类分析.19种粮食均含有丰富的人体所需的元素,聚类分析其相似性较大...     

Structural insights and ab initio sequencing within the DING proteins family

DING proteins constitute an intriguing family of phosphate-binding proteins that was identified in a wide range of organisms, from prokaryotes and archae to eukaryotes. Despite their seemingly ubiquitous occurrence in eukaryotes, their encoding genes are missing from sequenced genomes. Such a lack has considerably hampered functional studies. In humans, these proteins have been related to several diseases, like atherosclerosis, kidney stones, inflammation processes and HIV inhibition. The human phosphate binding protein is a human representative of the DING family that was serendipitously discovered from human plasma. An original approach was developed to determine ab initio the complete and exact sequence of this 38 kDa protein by utilizing mass spectrometry and X-ray data in tandem. Taking advantage of this first complete eukaryotic DING sequence, a immunohistochemistry study was undertaken to check the presence of DING proteins in various mice tissues, revealing that these proteins are widely expressed. Finally, the structure of a bacterial representative from Pseudomonas fluorescens was solved at sub-angstrom resolution, allowing the molecular mechanism of the phosphate binding in these high-affinity proteins to be elucidated.     

Qualitative-(semi)quantitative data acquisition of artemisinin and its metabolites in rat plasma using an LTQ/Orbitrap mass spectrometer

Artemisinin (QHS) is one of the first-line antimalarials, and autoinduction of CYP-mediated metabolism can result in its reduced exposure. To better understand the autoinduction of QHS, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of QHS and its phase I metabolites in rats using an liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method. The LC separation was improved, allowing the separation of QHS and its metabolites from their diastereomers, and seven metabolites of QHS with relatively high exposure were identified in rat plasma, including deoxyartemisinin (DQHS), three monoyhydroxylated plus deoxyl metabolites (M1-M3) and three monohydroxylated metabolites (M4-M6). For detection, a high-resolution LTQ/Orbitrap mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization (ESI) inlet in the positive ion mode was used. High-resolution extracted ion chromatograms for each analyte were obtained by processing the full-scan MS dataset with 10 ppm mass tolerance. The plasma samples were pretreated by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The standard curve was linear (r(2) > 0.99) over the QHS and DQHS concentration range of 5.0-200.0 ng/ml in 50 μl of plasma, which offered sufficient sensitivity and accuracy for the determination of QHS and its metabolites. A 3-day validation approach was used for absolute quantitation of QHS and DQHS. The other six metabolites of QHS were semiquantified based on the calibration curve of QHS. The present method was applied to the pharmacokinetic study of QHS in rats after a single oral administration. The data shown here also suggest that this type of mass analyzer will be capable of a quantitative-qualitative workflow.     

双聚焦扇型磁式高分辨ICP-MS在人体铁稳定同位素示踪研究中的应用

铁营养学研究是解决我国普遍存在的缺铁性贫血的关键环节 ,铁及其同位素比值测定方法是铁营养学研究的基础。人们传统地采用放射性同位素示踪法、中子活化法、热电离质谱法等作为铁营养学研究的辅助手段。该工作使用扇型磁式双聚焦高分辨ICP MS测定食品和粪便样品中铁同位素比值 ,用 30 0 0分辨率以避免40 Ar1 6O ,40 Ar1 4 N对56Fe ,54Fe的干扰 ,以快速多次电扫描方式降低等离子体波动的影响 ,以 5 μg·mL-1Fe标准溶液多次测定 ,统计计算得出54Fe/56Fe ,57Fe/56Fe和58Fe/56Fe等同位素比值测量精度分别为 0 2 3,0 1 4 ,0 2 2 % ,方法准确可靠、简便快速、已应用于铁营养学研究中。     

卵黄低密度脂蛋白结构的红外光谱和激光拉曼光谱分析

低密度脂蛋白是把胆固醇运输到肝脏合成胆酸一种重要的脂蛋白。低密度脂蛋白结构的研究对弄清动脉硬化发病机理有着非常重要的意义。用硫酸铵分离法快速分离鸡蛋黄中各种蛋白成分,用Sephadex G-200柱层析分离、纯化获得纯度很高的低密度脂蛋白,对其进行SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)检测,结果显示低密度脂蛋白主要包含5种脱辅基蛋白。激光拉曼和红外光谱测定,检测出低密度脂蛋白中对称CH2以及不对称CH2的伸缩振动。红外光谱还检测到脂蛋白肽键中C=O伸缩振动、脂链中P=O的伸缩振动和磷脂中胆碱聚集体的N+(CH3)3的不对称振动。两种光谱分析为研究低密度脂蛋白的结构提供了有效信息。     

铝土矿中微量镓的分析方法进展

综述了近几年国内铝土矿中镓分析方法的研究进展,叙述了用于微量镓分析测定的光度法、伏安法、原子吸收光谱法、电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱法、电感耦合等离子体-质谱法、X射线荧光光谱法等分析方法,对方法的优缺点进行了评述,并对今后微量镓分析测定方法进行了展望.     

非放射性碘标记-电感耦合等离子体质谱用于免疫分析研究

研究了非放射性碘标记-电感耦合等离子体质谱免疫分析体系,该体系以兔抗大肠杆菌作为模型抗原,羊抗兔IgG蛋白为抗体,建立了一种新的免疫分析方法。实验中采用溴代琥珀酰胺(NBS)为氧化剂,实现非放射性127I标记羊抗兔IgG蛋白,探索了标记的最佳条件,标记率为63.12％; 标记物在Sephadex G50柱上分离纯化后,研究了I-羊抗兔蛋白的稳定性,结果表明,标记物在4 ℃放置96 h后几乎没有碘脱落,并保持一定的活性。实验中采用聚苯乙烯96孔板作为固相载体进行免疫反应,以电感耦合等离子体质谱为检测手段,方法的检出限为0.12 mg·L-1,RSD(n=9)为3%; 该体系也可适用于其他活性蛋白、核酸等的标记和分析。     

Critical Evaluation of Analytical Procedures for the Determination of Lead in Seawater

Abstract: This article presents a critical evaluation of the analytical procedures used for the determination of lead in seawater, which is important because lead is a good indicator of marine pollution caused by human activities. Sampling, storage, and pretreatment techniques are briefly overviewed, including the significance of systematic errors that cannot be corrected later on. The main techniques in this article are electrothermal–atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS), inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and voltammetry. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) are treated as well, although their limits of quantification are not sufficient for a determination of lead in unpolluted seawater. Even when separation and preconcentration techniques are applied, these techniques are only capable of detecting lead in polluted coastal seawater. Separation and preconcentration are actually also required for ET-AAS and ICP-MS in order to determine the lowest concentrations of lead found in unpolluted open-ocean seawater, which is still a challenge for the analytical chemist.