Fourier-transform mass spectrometry for automated fragmentation and identification of 5-20 kDa proteins in mixtures

Electrophoresis. 2002 Sep;23(18):3217-23. doi: 10.1002/1522-2683(200209)23:18<3217::AID-ELPS3217>3.0.CO;2-K.

Abstract

When presented with a mixture of intact proteins, electrospray ionization with Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (ESI-FTMS) has the capability to obtain direct fragmentation information from isolated ions. However, the automation of this capability has not been achieved to date. We have developed software for unattended acquisition of protein tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data and batch processing of the resulting files for identification of whole proteins. Mixtures of both protein standards (8-29 kDa) and Methanococcus jannaschii cytosolic proteins (up to six components + 20 kDa) were infused via an autosampler, and MS/MS data were acquired without human intervention. The acquisition software recognizes ESI charge state patterns, generates protein-specific isolation waveforms on-the-fly, and fragments ions using two different infrared laser times. In addition to protein standards, five wild-type proteins (7-14 kDa) were identified automatically with 100% sequence coverage from the M. jannaschii database. The software underpins a measurement platform for sample-dependent acquisition of MS/MS data for whole proteins, a critical step to realize proteomics with 100% sequence coverage in a higher throughput setting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Archaeal Proteins / analysis
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / statistics & numerical data
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Mass Spectrometry / statistics & numerical data
  • Methanococcus / chemistry
  • Proteins / analysis*
  • Software
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Archaeal Proteins
  • Proteins