Using Untargeted Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics to Identify Putative Microprotein Biomarkers from Patient Tampons
摘要
Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is a versatile technique that facilitates the study of microproteins as biomarkers and potential translational applications by utilizing liquid chromatography–trapped ion mobility–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–TIMS–MS/MS) and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS). Importantly, MS has been shown to be compatible with complex biological samples (i.e., mammalian biofluids and patient samples). Here we describe a workflow combining: (1) top–down proteomics for analysis of intact microproteins via MALDI–TOF MS and (2) bottom–up proteomics for analysis of enzymatically digested microproteins via LC–TIMS–MS/MS to annotate putative microproteins of interest from a complex biological sample: patient-derived tampons.