在线固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱法检测蘑菇中毒患者尿液中痕量α -鹅膏毒肽

建立了在线固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱（online SPE-LC-MS/MS）测定蘑菇中毒患者尿液中痕量α -鹅膏毒肽的分析方法。样品经甲酸酸化的乙腈-甲醇（5：1,v/v）沉淀蛋白质,反相液液微萃取去除样品提取液中的有机溶剂,毒素经ODS微柱（5 mm×2.1 mm,5 μm）在线SPE净化,XBridge^TM BEH C₁₈ 色谱柱（150 mm×3.0 mm,2.5 μm）分离,MS/MS测定。采用基于定量环的快速阀切换技术作为在线SPE和LC-MS/MS模块的接口,使得两个分离模块互相独立,无论是流动相还是压力,都不会互相干扰,保证了系统的稳定性;在线系统的精准净化,有效消除了后续质谱检测的基质效应,确保了尿液中痕量水平α -鹅膏毒肽的定性定量检测。尿液中α -鹅膏毒肽在0.1~50 μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数（r ² ）为0.9983;检出限（LOD）为0.03 μg/L;α -鹅膏毒肽的加标（0.1、2.0和20 μg/L）平均回收率为84.3%~91.7%,相对标准偏差（RSD）为3.8%~7.2%。体内鹅膏毒肽代谢迅速,生物基质中痕量水平毒素的检测是其中毒实验室鉴定的主要难题,通过实际样品检测,证明该法操作简单,准确、灵敏;溶剂沉淀蛋白质和反相液液微萃取去除有机相和脂溶性基质的简单操作,可以作为水溶性毒素在线SPE-LC-MS/MS检测时快速且有效的配套前处理方法;基于在线SPE精准净化技术,可以实现尿液中α -鹅膏毒肽的高灵敏度测定（LOD为0.03 μg/L）,解决了中毒时患者体内痕量水平α -鹅膏毒肽定性确证的难题,部分患者α -鹅膏毒肽中毒实验室鉴定的时间可以扩展到90 h以上;同时,痕量水平的定量检测技术,可以为中毒后迅速代谢的α -鹅膏毒肽在体内的剂量反应关系研究提供可靠的技术支撑。     

反相液相色谱-串联质谱法鉴定油菜蜂花粉中的蛋白质及活性肽

基于鸟枪法蛋白质组学分析方法,使用反相液相色谱-串联质谱（RPLC-MS/MS）系统分析油菜蜂花粉蛋白质的胰蛋白酶酶解产物,结合数据库检索,共鉴定到353条肽段。鉴定到的肽段所归属的蛋白质中有239个蛋白质可检索到其分子生物学功能,主要功能为结合活性、酶活性、运输活性、抑制活性等。根据血管紧张素转化酶（ACE）抑制肽活性与多肽构效之间的关系,从鉴定到的肽段中筛选并适当修饰后得到5条可能具有ACE抑制活性的肽段,化学合成肽段后进行了活性验证。结果表明5条肽段均具有良好的活性,其中肽段AELDIVLALF和LAVNLIPFP表现出较高的ACE抑制活性,半数抑制浓度（IC₅₀）分别为（10.65±0.50）μmol/L和（23.66±1.08）μmol/L。该方法速度快,成本低,大大缩短了鉴定周期,达到了高通量筛选生物活性肽的目的。     

超高效液相色谱-高分辨质谱法筛查婴幼儿配方奶粉中17种头孢菌素类药物残留

建立了一种快速筛查婴幼儿配方奶粉中17种头孢菌素类药物残留的超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱（UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS）分析方法。奶粉样品经水溶解后,使用乙腈提取除去蛋白质等杂质,经低温高速离心后可达到净化样品的目的。选用C8色谱柱对待测物进行分离,在Q Exactive高分辨质谱Full MS/dd-MS²（data-dependent MS²）扫描模式下采集数据进行定性定量分析。17种目标物在5~200 μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数（r²）均大于0.99,检出限0.0060~0.040 μg/L,定量限0.71~4.6 μg/kg,平均回收率69.6%~101.4%,相对标准偏差（RSDs）均小于10%。该法操作简单,重现性好,分辨率高,适用于婴幼儿配方奶粉中17种头孢菌素类药物残留的定性、定量筛查。     

基于直接注射-多级质谱全扫描技术的人血红蛋白快速肽图分析

利用液相色谱–串联质谱法(LC-MS/MS)进行肽图分析,是目前单克隆抗体等蛋白类药物质量控制的主要方法,然而,LC-MS/MS分析具有费时、费溶剂和成本高等缺点。本研究以人血红蛋白(Human hemoglobin, Hb)为例,考察利用直接注射–多级质谱全扫描技术(DI-MS/MS^ALL)进行肽图分析的可行性。Hb经胰蛋白酶水解后,多肽样品通过流动注射泵直接注入QTOF-MS离子源,采用MS/MS^ALL记录MS¹谱图以及每个单位质荷比窗口(1 Da)的MS²谱图信息,所获得的质谱信息与Skyline软件给出的21个理论肽段质谱信息进行匹配,初步指认了20个肽段。常规的LC-MS/MS肽图分析检测出了所有21个理论肽段。DI-MS/MSALL的MS¹图谱与LC-MS/MS的平均MS¹图谱相近,主要为各肽段带电荷数1～4的准分子离子信号,以双电荷为主,而MS²图谱均以y⁺离子为主。因此,DI-MS/MS^...     

同位素稀释高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱法检测烟道气中的低氯代二恶英

建立了同位素稀释高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱检测烟道气中痕量低氯代二恶英的分析方法。采用索氏提取富集烟道气样品中的目标物,提取液经过复合硅胶柱和碱性氧化铝柱净化后,进行高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱检测。采用DB-5MS毛细管色谱柱（30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm）分离,以保留时间和同位素特征离子丰度比定性,以与同位素的峰面积比值定量。实验结果表明,方法的回收率为66.6%~112.5%,相对标准偏差（RSD）的范围为19.9%~40.5%（n=5）,方法的检出限（LOD）为0.027~0.485 μg/L。应用该方法检测了3个焚烧炉烟道气样品,回收率在85.7%~137.0%范围内,样品中目标物含量分布在11.4~9183 pg/Nm³之间。结果表明该方法适合用于烟道气中痕量低氯代二恶英的检测。     

基于液相色谱-串联质谱法的肉类特征肽段鉴别及掺假测定

建立了液相色谱-串联质谱技术鉴别肉类特征肽段及定量检测羊肉中常见外源肉掺假的方法。样品经蛋白质提取、胰蛋白酶水解和固相萃取小柱净化后,利用超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱（UPLC-Q/Exactive-HRMS）和Proteinpilot软件,实现蛋白质和多肽的鉴定;再通过基本局部比对搜索工具（BLAST）与Uniprot数据库对比分析,筛选出羊肉、鸭肉、猪肉和鸡肉的20个物种特征性多肽标志物;最后利用高效液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱（UPLC-QqQ-MS）系统对羊肉、鸭肉、猪肉和鸡肉的特征性多肽进行了验证和多反应监测（MRM）定量研究。将鸭肉、猪肉和鸡肉分别按照质量分数为1%、5%、10%、20%、50%的比例掺加到羊肉中,得到鸭肉最低掺假检出限为0.25%、猪肉最低掺假检出限为0.17%、鸡肉最低掺假检出限为0.10%。     

反相高效液相色谱双梯度洗脱分离肽混合物及质谱分析

复杂肽段混合物的有效分离是高覆盖率地鉴定蛋白质混合物的前提。“鸟枪法”(Shotgun)蛋白质组学研究策略通常采用蛋白酶切、二维液相色谱-串联质谱分析肽段混合物从而鉴定蛋白质,其中高效率地分离肽段混合物是关键步骤之一。本文通过pH梯度结合有机溶剂梯度的反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)进行一维液相色谱分离,按等时间间隔收集馏分并将一个梯度的前段的一个馏分与后段一个馏分混合,然后进行纳升级液相色谱-质谱联用(nanoRPLC-MS/MS)分析。将该方法应用于酵母蛋白质的分离和鉴定,实验结果为: 与常规的强阳离子色谱-反相液相色谱-质谱分离鉴定方法相比,采用pH梯度结合有机相梯度的RP-HPLC-RPLC-MS分离鉴定方法多鉴定到567个酵母蛋白质(簇,含有3035个唯一肽段);其中鉴定到肽段的pI分布范围为3.42～12.01,相对分子质量范围为587.67～3499.79;蛋白质的pI分布范围为3.82～12.19,相对分子质量范围为3446.55～432905。该结果表明这种方法在复杂体系蛋白质组分离鉴定中具有明显的优势,在蛋白质组学研究中有较好的应用前景。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定肉制品和调味料中7种水产品过敏原

基于高效液相色谱-串联质谱系统建立了食品中水产品过敏原的快速筛查和定量检测方法。样品经蛋白质提取、纯化、胰蛋白酶解后，利用超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱（UPLC-Q/Exactive-HRMS）结合ProteinPilot软件，基于母离子和碎片离子谱分析，实现蛋白质和多肽的鉴定。再通过基本局部比对搜索工具（BLAST）与Uniprot数据库对比分析，筛选出南美白虾、大闸蟹、青蟹、金枪鱼、大西洋鲑鱼的7种过敏原蛋白的30个特征肽。利用高效液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱（UPLC-QqQ-MS）系统对特征肽进行验证和多反应监测（MRM）定量研究。结果表明，该方法在5~250 mg/kg范围内线性关系良好，检出限为2~3.5 mg/kg，平均回收率为88.7%~110.2%。该方法重现性好，通量高，可应用于肉制品和调味料中7种过敏原的快速筛查和定量分析。     

基于不同提取方法的水稻叶片蛋白质组的二维液相色谱分离及高分辨质谱分析

建立了酚法提取-二维液相色谱分离-高分辨质谱分析水稻叶片蛋白质组的方法。水稻叶片蛋白质经过酚法提取,酶解肽段脱盐后用离线反相-反相二维液相色谱分离,然后用线性离子阱/静电场轨道阱组合式高分辨质谱分析,共鉴定到2712种蛋白质。比较了液相色谱分离系统（一维液相色谱与二维液相色谱）和水稻叶片蛋白质提取方法（酚法、十二烷基硫酸钠法（SDS法）和三氯乙酸/丙酮法（TCA/丙酮法））对鉴定蛋白质数量的影响,结果表明：在二维液相色谱条件下,酚法、SDS法和TCA/丙酮法鉴定到的蛋白质数目为2712、2415和1914,分别是一维液相色谱条件下鉴定到的蛋白质数目的2.7、2.5和1.9倍。二维液相色谱条件下,酚法鉴定到的蛋白质数目比SDS法和TCA/丙酮法分别多297和798。与SDS法和TCA/丙酮法相比,酚法不但鉴定到的蛋白质数量多,而且能够鉴定到一些极端蛋白质,如酸性、碱性及高等电点的蛋白质。此外,对二维液相色谱条件下3种蛋白质提取方法提取到的蛋白质进行生物学功能分类,发现3种方法鉴定到的蛋白质的功能存在互补性,但酚法鉴定到的蛋白质功能种类最多。该法为水稻蛋白质组学研究提供了技术支撑,同时也为其他作物的蛋白质组学研究技术提供重要的借鉴。     

基于特征肽的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测矛头蝮蛇蛇毒种属来源及类凝血酶含量

蛇毒血凝酶类药物是以蝮蛇蛇毒为原料制备的止血药,主要活性成分为蛇毒类凝血酶(svTLEs)。不同蛇种来源的svTLEs结构不同,止血机制不同,药理作用也存在差异,因此准确鉴别蛇毒种属来源和svTLEs含量对于保障该类产品的质量至关重要。研究基于蛋白质组学技术,筛选出了具有种属特异性的矛头蝮蛇svTLE特征肽,并建立了基于特征肽的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UHPLC-MS/MS)检测矛头蝮蛇蛇毒种属来源及类凝血酶含量的方法。采用胰蛋白酶对纯化的矛头蝮蛇svTLE进行酶解,利用纳升液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱(Nano LC-Q-Exactive-MS)和Proteome Discoverer 2.2软件分别进行多肽的检测和鉴定,通过BLAST搜索与Uniprot数据库对比分析,筛选出具有种属特异性的矛头蝮蛇svTLEs特征肽“EAYNGLPAK”。针对该特征肽对酶解温度、酶解时间和酶用量等样品前处理方法进行了优化,利用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱,以m/z 481.9>315.2和481.9>485.2作为检测离子对,采用ESI⁺模式进行了多反应...     

A strategy for the enrichment and characterization of disulfide bond-contained proteins from Chinese cobra (Naja atra) venom

A new strategy combined gold-coated magnetic nanocomposites assisted enrichment with mass spectrometry was developed for the characterization of disulfide bond-contained proteins from Chinese cobra (Naja atra) venom. In this work, core-shell nanocomposites were synthesized by the seed-mediated growth method and used for the enrichment of snake venom proteins containing disulfide bonds. A total of 3545 tryptic digested peptides derived from 96 venom proteins in Naja atra venom were identified. The venom proteins comprised 14 toxin families including three-finger toxins, phospholipase A₂, snake venom metalloproteinase, cobra venom factor, and so forth. Extra 16 venom proteins were detected exclusively in the nanocomposites set, among which 11 venom proteins were from the three-finger toxins family. In the present study, the proposed simple and efficient protocol replaced the tedious and laborious technologies commonly used for pre-separating crude snake venom, suggesting widely implementation in low-abundance or trace disulfide bond-contained proteins or peptides characterization.     

Identification evidence unraveled by strict proteomics rules toward forensic samples

Snake venom is a complex mixture of proteins and peptides secreted by venomous snakes from their poison glands. Although proteomics for snake venom composition, interspecific differences, and developmental evolution has been developed for a decade, current diagnosis or identification techniques of snake venom in clinical intoxication and forensic science applications are mainly dependent on morphological and immunoassay. It could be expected that the proteomics techniques directly offer great help. This work applied a bottom-up proteomics method to identify proteins’ types and species attribution in suspected snake venom samples using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole-electrostatic field Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometric technique, and cytotoxicity assay was amended to provide a direct evidence of toxicity. Toward the suspicious samples seized in the security control, sample pretreatment (in-sol and in-gel digestion) and data acquisition (nontargeted and targeted screening) modes complemented and validated each other. We have implemented two consequent approaches in identifying the species source of proteins in the samples via the points of venom proteomics and strict forensic identification. First, we completed a workflow consisting of a proteomics database match toward an entire SWISS-PROT (date 2018-11-22) database and a result-directed specific taxonomy database. The latter was a helpful hint to compare master protein kinds and reveal the insufficiency of specific venom proteomics characterization rules. Second, we suggested strict rules for protein identification to meet the requirements of forensic science on improved identification correctness, that is, (1) peptide spectrum matches confidence, peptide confidence, and protein confidence were both high (with the false-discovery ratio less than 1%); (2) the number of unique peptides was more than or equal to two in one protein, and (3) within unique peptides, which at least 75% of the ∆m/z of the matched y and b ions were less than 5 ppm. We identified these samples as cobra venom containing 10 highly abundant proteins (P00597, P82463, P60770, Q9YGI4, P62375, P49123, P80245, P60302, P01442, and P60304) from two snake venom protein families (acid phospholipase A2 and three-finger toxins), and the most abundant proteins were cytotoxins.     

质谱法分析蛇毒蛋白翻译后修饰

采用SDS-PAGE分离大连黑眉蝮蛇(Gloydius Shedaoensis)蛇毒蛋白组分, Pro-Q Emerald 488糖蛋白和Pro-Q Diamond磷酸化蛋白荧光染料用于糖蛋白和磷酸化蛋白泳带染色, 采用高效液相色谱电喷雾电离串联质谱(HPLC-nESI-MS/MS)法鉴定蛋白. SDS-PAGE胶上的8条糖蛋白带被分别鉴定为L-氨基酸氧化酶、金属蛋白酶、谷氨酰环化酶、C-端缺失L-氨基酸氧化酶、纤溶酶原激活物、磷脂酶A2(PLA2)和神经生长因子; 5条磷酸化蛋白带被分别鉴定为Stejaggregin-A、PLA2、Crisp、金属蛋白酶 P-Ⅲ和Acutolysin e precursor, 与其它蛇毒来源蛋白具有一定的同源性. 为进一步验证方法的可靠性, 采用离子交换和凝胶过滤层析技术纯化得到了PLA2, Pro-Q Diamond染色结果显示PLA2被磷酸化. 研究所得结果为进一步研究蛋白质翻译后修饰对蛇毒蛋白的生物活性、结构与功能提供了依据.     

Snake venomics. Strategy and applications

Snake bites can be deadly, but the venoms also contain components of medical and biotechnological value. The proteomic characterization of snake venom proteomes, snake venomics, has thus a number of potential benefits for basic research, clinical diagnosis, and development of new research tools and drugs of potential clinical use. Snake venomics is also relevant for a deep understanding of the evolution and the biological effects of the venoms, and to generate immunization protocols to elicit toxin-specific antibodies with greater specificity and effectiveness than conventional systems. Our snake venomics approach starts with the fractionation of the crude venom by reverse-phase HPLC, followed by the initial characterization of each protein fraction by combination of N-terminal sequencing, SDS-PAGE, and mass spectrometric determination of the molecular masses and the cysteine (SH and S--S) content. Protein fractions showing a single electrophoretic band, molecular mass, and N-terminal sequence can be straightforwardly assigned by BLAST analysis to a known protein family. On the other hand, protein fractions showing heterogeneous or blocked N-termini are analyzed by SDS-PAGE and the bands of interest subjected to automated reduction, carbamidomethylation, and in-gel tryptic digestion. The resulting tryptic peptides are then analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass fingerprinting followed by amino acid sequence determination of selected doubly and triply charged peptide ions by collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry. The combined strategy allows us to assign unambiguously all the isolated venom toxins representing over 0.05% of the total venom proteins to known protein families. Protocols and applications of snake venomics are reviewed and discussed.     

Separation and analysis of peptides and proteins from Vipera lebetina snake venom

Our studies of Levantine viper venom have demonstrated that the venom is a rich source of biomedically important proteins and peptides. The venom contains metalloproteases: thrombolytic, fibrin-degrading lebetase, an endothelial cell apoptosis inducing metalloprotease (VLAIP), factor X activator (VLFXA); serine proteases: factor V activator, bradykinin-releasing serine proteases, β-fibrinogenase, α-fibrinogenase and chymotrypsin-like protease and different other enzymes such as phosphodiesterase, 5`-nucleotidase, ribonuclease, phospholipase A2s and L-amino acid oxidase. Among nonenzymatic components venom contains: nerve growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, disintegrins, C-type lectins.Here we report the isolation and characterization of proteins and peptides from Vipera lebetina venom using size exclusion, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction and affinity chromatography, HPLC, UPLC and MALDI-TOF MS methods. N-terminal sequences and internal sequences of tryptic peptides of different proteins were determined using Edman sequencing and LC-ESI-MS/MS techniques. On the basis of fragmental sequences of proteins the oligonucleotides were designed and used as primers for cDNA cloning. Using cDNA library of the venom gland of a single snake the cDNAs coding proteins were cloned and sequenced. Protein sequences were deduced from cDNA sequences.The substrate specificity of venom proteases against insulin B-chain, bradykinin, substance P, and 6-10 amino acid residues containing peptides synthesized according to potential cleavage regions of fibrinogen, factor X, factor IX, factor V, α₂-macroglobulin bait region and pregnancy zone protein were studied using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technique.     

Snake Venom Components: Tools and Cures to Target Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered as a major cause of death worldwide. Therefore, identifying and developing therapeutic strategies to treat and reduce the prevalence of CVDs is a major medical challenge. Several drugs used for the treatment of CVDs, such as captopril, emerged from natural products, namely snake venoms. These venoms are complex mixtures of bioactive molecules, which, among other physiological networks, target the cardiovascular system, leading to them being considered in the development and design of new drugs. In this review, we describe some snake venom molecules targeting the cardiovascular system such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2), natriuretic peptides (NPs), bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), disintegrins, fibrinolytic enzymes, and three-finger toxins (3FTXs). In addition, their molecular targets, and mechanisms of action—vasorelaxation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, cardioprotective activities—are discussed. The dissection of their biological effects at the molecular scale give insights for the development of future snake venom-derived drugs.     

An Unusual Family of Glycosylated Peptides Isolated from <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Dendroaspis angusticeps</Emphasis> Venom and Characterized by Combination of Collision Induced and Electron Transfer Dissociation

This study describes the structural characterization of a totally new family of peptides from the venom of the snake green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps). Interestingly, these peptides differ in several points from other already known mamba toxins. First of all, they exhibit very small molecular masses, ranging from 1.3 to 2.4 kDa. The molecular mass of classical mamba toxins is in the range of 7 to 25 kDa. Second, the new peptides do not contain disulfide bonds, a post-translational modification commonly encountered in animal toxins. The third difference is the very high proportion of proline residues in the sequence accounting for about one-third of the sequence. Finally, these new peptides reveal a carbohydrate moiety, indicating a glycosylation in the sequence. The last two features have made the structural characterization of the new peptides by mass spectrometry a real analytical challenge. Peptides were characterized by a combined use of MALDI- TOF/TOF and nanoESI-IT-ETD experiments to determine not only the peptide sequence but also the composition and the position of the carbohydrate moiety. Anyway, such small glycosylated and proline-rich toxins are totally different from any other known snake peptide and form, as a consequence, a new family of peptides.     

Coupled Chromatography for Assay of the Venom Proteome of the Snake Agkistrodon acutus: An Effective Strategy for Discovery of Active Components

Two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) is an attractive option for proteome profiling because of its advantages in separation and analysis of proteins and peptides of extreme pH and molecular weight. Proteomics, regarded as a promising and high-throughput method for discovery of new active natural products, calls for technical progress in comprehensive separation, especially for peptides, glycoproteins, and hydrophobic proteins, etc. Here, an optimized off-line IEX-RP LC system has been used for separation of all the components of the venom of the five-pace snake (Agkistrodon acutus). Seventy-nine different natural venom components were obtained by use of this system, more than were obtained by two dimensional electrophoresis of the venom. An automated on-line IEX-RP LC system was also developed for heart-cut separation of components of interest. As a result, we discovered a new tripeptide (PGlu-Asn-Trp, MW 429.1) in the venom. This emphasizes the role of 2D-LC in drug discovery.     

Fractionation and proteomic analysis of the Walterinnesia aegyptia snake venom using OFFGEL and MALDI‐TOF‐MS techniques

Animal venoms are complex mixtures of more than 100 different compounds, including peptides, proteins, and nonprotein compounds such as lipids, carbohydrates, and metal ions. In addition, the existing compounds show a wide range of molecular weights and concentrations within these venoms, making separation and purification procedures quite tedious. Here, we analyzed for the first time by MS the advantages of using the OFFGEL technique in the separation of the venom components of the Egyptian Elapidae Walterinnesia aegyptia snake compared to two classical methods of separation, SEC and RP‐HPLC. We demonstrate that OFFGEL separates venom components over a larger scale of fractions, preserve respectable resolution with regard to the presence of a given compound in adjacent fractions and allows the identification of a greater number of ions by MS (102 over 134 total ions). We also conclude that applying several separating techniques (SEC and RP‐HPLC in addition to OFFGEL) provides complementary results in terms of ion detection (21 more for SEC and 22 more with RP‐HPLC). As a result, we provide a complete list of 134 ions present in the venom of W. aegyptia by using all these techniques combined.     

Proteomic profiling of a snake venom using high mass detection MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Proteomic profiling involves identification and quantification of protein components in complex biological systems. Most of the mass profiling studies performed with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) have been restricted to peptides and small proteins (<20 kDa) because the sensitivity of the standard ion detectors decreases with increasing ion mass. Here we perform a protein profiling study of the snake venom Sistrurus miliarius barbouri, comparing 2D gel electrophoresis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a high mass cryodetector MALDI-TOF instrument (Macromizer), whose detector displays an uniform sensitivity with mass. Our results show that such MS approach can render superior analysis of protein complexity compared with that obtained with the electrophoretic and chromatographic approaches. The summation of ion impacts allows relative quantification of different proteins, and the number of ion counts correlates with the peak areas in the reversed-phase HPLC. Furthermore, the sensitivity reached with the high mass cryodetection MS technology clearly exceeds the detection limit of standard high-sensitivity staining methods.