Biosensor chip mass spectrometry: a chip-based proteomics approach

Rapid advances in genomic sequencing, bioinformatics, and analytical instrumentation have created the field of proteomics, which at present is based largely on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) separation of complex protein mixtures and identification of individual proteins using mass spectrometry. These analyses provide a wealth of data, which upon further evaluation leads to many questions regarding the structure and function of the proteins. The challenge of answering these questions create a need for high-specificity approaches that may be used in the analysis of biomolecular recognition events and interacting partners, and thereby places great demands on general protein characterization instrumentation and the types of analyses they need to perform. Over the past five years we have been actively involved in interfacing two general, instrumental techniques, surface plasmon resonance-biomolecular interaction analysis (SPR-BIA) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, into a single concerted approach for use in the functional and structural characterization of proteins. Reviewed here is the recent progress made using biomolecular interaction analysis - mass spectrometry (BIA-MS) in the detailed characterization of proteins and protein-protein interactions and the development of biosensor chip mass spectrometry (BCMS) as a new chip-based proteomics approach.