Analysis of Phosphoproteins Using a Benchtop MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer

Introduction

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers are a mass spectrometer type that is used in a wide range of fields likewise LCMS, in terms of high through-put and high sensitivity. These instruments have recently being utilized more and more for simple molecular weight measurement and profiling of synthesized products and high-molecular compounds. This is because instruments of this type have several advantageous features: singly-charged ions are generated so molecular weights can be recognized easily, the mass range is wide, and there are many solvent options because the sample is dried before measurement. On the other hand, due to changes in social conditions in these several years, government offices, universities, and private enterprises strongly request the reduction of costs for both introduction and running of instruments used for such applications. The benchtop "MALDI-8020" MALDI- TOF mass spectrometer is a new instrument that can sufficiently meet such market needs. The noteworthy point of this instrument is that it has a shorter flight tube, which is the key feature of its small size, while retaining the performance equal to or higher than that of a conventional model. Development of instruments in recent years is moving toward higher specifications. In the case of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers, reflectron mode has attracted attention because of its high resolving power and structure analysis function by MS/MS. The usability of linear mode, on the other hand, has been known for a long time; however, there have been no major technical progressions in linear mode recently. The linear mode is, for example, effective in detecting phosphorylation that is a typical post-translational modification of proteins, and in confirming molecular weights of unstable compounds. This article introduces an example of measuring digests of phosphoprotein and analyzing phosphate modifications using the benchtop MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer "MALDI-8020".

November 6, 2017 GMT