质谱技术在免疫分子的结构研究中的应用

质谱技术用于生物大分子的研究具有直接、简单、快速、经济等优点。近十年来 ,基质辅助激光解吸质谱 (MALDI MS)和电喷雾质谱 (ESI MS)在免疫学领域的研究中作出了重要贡献。本文着重对抗原、抗体、抗原 抗体复合物、抗原决定簇等免疫分子结构的质谱研究作一评述。大体分为四方面内容 :免疫分子的分子量、翻译后修饰、异质性、构象变化的分析 ;质谱指纹图的取得和串联质谱测序 ;抗原 抗体复合物的证明 ;B 细胞表位和T 细胞表位序列的测定。这些研究结果对于理解免疫分子的免疫功能、对于疾病的早期诊断、对于发展新药和疫苗具有重要意义

Application of Mass Spectrometric-Based Techniques to the Study of Structures of Immune Molecules

Mass spectrometric-based techniques possesses advantages such as directness, simplicity, rapid and economy in study of biomacromolecule. In the past decade, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS ) and electrospay ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) have made important contributions to the field of immunology. The article reviews the application of mass spectrometric-based techniques to study the structures of immune molecules such as antigens, antibodies, antigen-antibody complexes and protein epitopes. The contents are divided into four main aspects: the analyses of molecular mass, post translational modifications, heterogeneity and conformations of immune molecules ; mass mapping of proteolysis products and sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry ; confirming of antigen -antibody complexes ; sequencing B-cell or T-cell epitopes in proteins. These results are important for understanding immune functions of immune molecules, showing promise for the early diagnosis of disease associated with viral and bacterial infection and developing novel therapeutics and vaccines.