Comparison of fluorescence, laser-induced fluorescence, and ultraviolet absorbance detection for measuring HPLC fractionated protein/peptide mixtures

Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 15;83(6):2394-6. doi: 10.1021/ac1032462. Epub 2011 Feb 14.

Abstract

Proteomics is the study of all proteins in a biological sample. High-pressure liquid chromatography coupled online with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) is currently the method of choice for proteomic analysis. Proteins are extracted, separated at the protein or peptide level (after enzymatic digestion), and fractions are analyzed by HPLC/MS. Detection during off-line fractionation is generally conducted using UV-vis, which is not sensitive enough to distinguish fractions having the largest concentration of proteins/peptides and should not be combined prior to HPLC/MS. To overcome this deficiency, we utilize fluorescence or UV-laser induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) detection for measuring proteins/peptides during the off-line fractionation. Fluorescence detection allows low-abundance proteins/peptides that contain aromatic amino acids to be measured. In this study, peptide/protein samples fractionated using ion-exchange chromatography were detected using UV absorbance, fluorescence, and UV-LIF. The results indicated that fluorescence and UV-LIF were able to detect the lower abundance proteins/peptides to give a more representative chromatogram, allowing the analyst to decide which fractions should be combined prior to HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Lasers*
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis*
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Proteins / analysis*
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Trypsin / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proteins
  • Trypsin