scholarly journals Characterisation of the covalent structure of proteins from biological material by MALDI mass spectrometry ‣ possibilities and limitations

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kussmann ◽  
Peter Roepstorff

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has become a primary tool for the detailed characterisation of the covalent structure of proteins isolated from biological material, mainly because of its following potentials: high sensitivity and specificity, speed of analysis, appropriateness for mixture analysis, high tolerance towards contaminants, and compatibility with separation techniques, e.g., gel electrophoresis. These characteristics enable the structural analysis of proteins even if they are only available in limited amounts and/or in mixtures, and even if the protein preparations contain large amounts of salts, buffers, detergents and denaturants. Additionally, structural data can be generated within a relatively short time.Whereas X-ray crystallography and multidimensional NMR techniques can provide “absolute” structural data, i.e., a three-dimensional “picture” of the protein of interest, MALDI-MS-especially in combination with selective protein chemistry – yields information on particular aspects of the entire protein structure, e.g., primary structure, active site(s), binding sites, and posttranslational modifications, all of which are often of crucial interest for the understanding of the protein function. Taking into account that protein crystallography and protein NMR studies require large quantities of highly purified sample, MALDI-MS can be even more regarded as a powerful complement in protein structure analysis.This review aims at describing the state-of-the-art of MALDI-MS for characterisation of proteins from biological material by evaluating its potential and limitations.

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren C. Kett ◽  
Deirdre R. Coombe

Mass spectrometry (MS) techniques have spear‒headed the field of proteomics. Recently, MS has been used to structurally analyse carbohydrates. The heparin/heparan sulfate‒like glycosaminoglycans (HLGAGs) present a special set of difficulties for structural analysis because they are highly sulfated and heterogeneous. We have used a matrix‒assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‒MS) technique in which heparin fragments are non‒covalently bound to basic peptides of a known mass, so as to limit in‒source desulfation and hence afford an accurate mass. We examined a range of different sized fragments with varying degrees of sulfation. The potential of combining the MALDI‒MS technique with enzymatic digestion to obtain saccharide sequence information on heparin fragments was explored. A disaccharide analysis greatly assists in determining a sequence from MALDI‒MS data. Enzymatic digestion followed by MALDI‒MS allows structural data on heparin fragments too large for direct MALDI‒MS to be obtained. We demonstrate that synthetic sulfated oligosaccharides can also be analysed by MALDI‒MS. There are advantages and limitations with this methodology, but until superior MS techniques become readily accessible to biomedical scientists the MALDI‒MS method provides a means to structurally analyse HLGAG fragments that have therapeutic potential because of their ability to bind to and functionally regulate a host of clinically important proteins.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie K. Garcia ◽  
Galahad Deperalta ◽  
Aaron T. Wecksler

Background: Biotherapeutics, particularly monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), are a maturing class of drugs capable of treating a wide range of diseases. Therapeutic function and solutionstability are linked to the proper three-dimensional organization of the primary sequence into Higher Order Structure (HOS) as well as the timescales of protein motions (dynamics). Methods that directly monitor protein HOS and dynamics are important for mapping therapeutically relevant protein-protein interactions and assessing properly folded structures. Irreversible covalent protein footprinting Mass Spectrometry (MS) tools, such as site-specific amino acid labeling and hydroxyl radical footprinting are analytical techniques capable of monitoring the side chain solvent accessibility influenced by tertiary and quaternary structure. Here we discuss the methodology, examples of biotherapeutic applications, and the future directions of irreversible covalent protein footprinting MS in biotherapeutic research and development. Conclusion: Bottom-up mass spectrometry using irreversible labeling techniques provide valuable information for characterizing solution-phase protein structure. Examples range from epitope mapping and protein-ligand interactions, to probing challenging structures of membrane proteins. By paring these techniques with hydrogen-deuterium exchange, spectroscopic analysis, or static-phase structural data such as crystallography or electron microscopy, a comprehensive understanding of protein structure can be obtained.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 883-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zubair Israr ◽  
Dennis Bernieh ◽  
Andrea Salzano ◽  
Shabana Cassambai ◽  
Yoshiyuki Yazaki ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundMatrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) has been used for more than 30 years. Compared with other analytical techniques, it offers ease of use, high throughput, robustness, cost-effectiveness, rapid analysis and sensitivity. As advantages, current clinical techniques (e.g. immunoassays) are unable to directly measure the biomarker; rather, they measure secondary signals. MALDI-MS has been extensively researched for clinical applications, and it is set for a breakthrough as a routine tool for clinical diagnostics.ContentThis review reports on the principles of MALDI-MS and discusses current clinical applications and the future clinical prospects for MALDI-MS. Furthermore, the review assesses the limitations currently experienced in clinical assays, the advantages and the impact of MALDI-MS to transform clinical laboratories.SummaryMALDI-MS is widely used in clinical microbiology for the screening of microbial isolates; however, there is scope to apply MALDI-MS in the diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic drug monitoring and biopsy imaging in many diseases.OutlookThere is considerable potential for MALDI-MS in clinic as a tool for screening, profiling and imaging because of its high sensitivity and specificity over alternative techniques.


1994 ◽  
pp. 199-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina Woods ◽  
Rong Wang ◽  
Marc Chevrier ◽  
Tim Cornish ◽  
Cathy Wolkow ◽  
...  

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