Simple fabrication of a structured matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization target coating for increased sensitivity in mass spectrometric analysis of membrane proteins

A new prestructured target plate for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) was developed specifically for hydrophobic integral membrane proteins. This sample support contains predefined concentrating sample spots with a focusing effect on droplets with a high content of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). This fluorinated organic solvent is advantageous for solubilizing hydrophobic proteins that are not soluble in water or the organic solvents normally used in sample preparation protocols for MALDI-MS. The prestructured plate was constructed by coating a regular steel plate with a thin layer of a silicone polymer, leaving sample spots of bare steel. Fabrication of the concentrating silicone structure was fast and very straightforward, without expensive or complicated equipment. Removing the layer, and thus regenerating the steel plate, was done by a simple washing procedure. The application and cleaning procedure are not constrained by a particular design of sample support or to any specific brand of mass spectrometer. When using the prestructured MALDI plate with HFIP as the sample solvent for 17 pmol of a cyanogen bromide digest of the highly hydrophobic membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin, an improved focusing effect and an increase of more than five-fold in average sensitivity were observed, compared with a regular steel target. Experimental results show a two-fold increase in average sensitivity when the new prestructured target plate was used, compared with a commercially available concentrating support.