Application of the fast-evaporation sample preparation method for improving quantification of angiotensin II by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

Quantitation of plasma angiotensin II in healthy Chinese subjects by a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method

INTRODUCTION

Quantitation of plasma angiotensin (Ang) II, the active mediator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), is challenging due to its low physiological concentration. We report a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) method to overcome this challenge.

METHOD

Ang II was extracted from EDTA plasma by an offline solid-phase extraction procedure with Waters MAX μElution plate. LCMS quantitation was performed on the Waters TQS system, monitoring the 3+ ions of the peptide. The analytical performance of the LCMS method was validated. The stability of Ang II was studied with or without the presence of a protease inhibitor. Local reference intervals were established from 143 healthy normotensive subjects (57% female, 21-60 years old).

RESULTS

The Ang II LCMS method had a measurable range of 3.3 - 700 pmol/L. Between batch precision coefficient of variation was <7% over the Ang II concentrations of 8.6 - 110 pmol/L. No significant matrix interference and carryover was observed. There was no significant difference in Ang II concentration in EDTA blood and plasma for at least 2 hours and 1 hour at room temperature, respectively. Ang II was stable for at least one year when stored at -80 ^o C, with or without the protease inhibitor. Age-dependent Ang II reference intervals were established: 4.4-17.7 pmol/L (21-30 years) and 3.9-12.8 pmol/L (31-60 years).

CONCLUSION

The present LCMS method is suitable for quantitation of Ang II to study the RAS system. Ang II collected at room temperature into EDTA bottles was stable at -80 ^o C for at least 1 year. The first age-dependent reference intervals of plasma Ang II were established for a healthy normotensive Chinese population.

Immersion by rotation-based application of the matrix for fast and reproducible sample preparations and robust results in mass spectrometry imaging

Automated matrix deposition for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is crucial for producing reproducible analyte ion signals. Here we report an innovative method employing an automated immersion apparatus, which enables a robust matrix deposition within 5 minutes and with scalable throughput by using MAPS matrix and non-polar solvents. MSI results received from mouse heart and rat brain tissues were qualitatively similar to those from nozzle sprayed samples with respect to peak number and quality of the ion images. Overall, the immersion-method enables a fast and careful matrix deposition and has the future potential for implementation in clinical tissue diagnostics.

Homogenous deposition of matrix–analyte cocrystals on gold-nanobowl arrays for improving MALDI-MS signal reproducibility

An Au-nanobowl array was synthesized to utilize its excellent properties to achieve efficient quantitative analysis via MALDI-MS analysis.

Simultaneous quantification of atropine and scopolamine in infusions of herbal tea and Solanaceae plant material by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (tandem) mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Atropine (Atr) and scopolamine (Scp) are toxic secondary plant metabolites of species within the Solanaceae genus that can accidentally or intentionally reach the food store chain by inaccurate harvesting of any plant material, e.g. for herbal tea infusions. Ingestion may cause severe anticholinergic poisoning thus requiring risk-oriented determination in food and beverages. The suitability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (tandem) mass spectrometry, MALDI-TOF MS(/MS), should be characterized for simultaneous analysis.

METHODS

We herein present the first MALDI-TOF MS(/MS) procedure for quantitative determination of both alkaloids in herbal tea infusions and Solanaceae plant material. A standard additions procedure using triply deuterated Atr as internal standard was developed and validated.

RESULTS

Tropane alkaloids were detected without interferences and the standard additions procedure allowed reliable quantification. Intraday and interday precision were less than 17% and corresponding accuracies were between 77% and 112%. Limits of detection in the spotting solution were found at 5 ng/mL (Atr) and 0.5 ng/mL (Scp). The assay was applied to diverse tea infusions as well as to berries and leaves of deadly nightshade and angel's trumpet.

CONCLUSIONS

The usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS(/MS) for investigations of plant-derived samples to prove contaminations by small basic compounds was demonstrated. The elaborate procedure is reliable but quite laborious to obtain quantitative results, but MALDI-TOF MS(/MS) was also shown to be a valuable tool for rapid qualitative screening for Atr and Scp in plant extracts.

An Efficient Sample Preparation Method to Enhance Carbohydrate Ion Signals in Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Sample preparation is a critical process in mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of carbohydrates. Although matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS is the method of choice in carbohydrate analysis, poor ion signal and data reproducibility of carbohydrate samples continue to be severe problems. For quantitative analysis of carbohydrates, an effective analytical protocol providing superior data quality is necessary. This video demonstrates sample preparation protocols to improve signal intensity and minimize data variation of carbohydrates in MALDI-MS. After drying and crystallization of sample droplets, the crystal morphology is reformed by methanol before mass spectrometric analysis. The enhancement in carbohydrate signal is examined with MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). Experimental results show that crystal reformation adjusts crystalline structures and redistributes carbohydrate analytes. In comparison with the dried droplet preparation method in conventional MALDI-MS, reforming carbohydrate crystal morphologies with methanol shows significantly better signal intensity, ion image distribution, and data stability. Since the protocols demonstrated herein do not involve changes in sample composition, they are generally applicable to various carbohydrates and matrixes.

Development of a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometric imaging platform for N-glycan relative quantitation using stable-isotope labeled hydrazide reagents

In this work, the capability of newly developed hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI-MSI) platform for quantitative analysis of N-glycans has been demonstrated. As a proof-of-principle experiment, heavy and light stable-isotope labeled hydrazide reagents labeled maltodextrin ladder were used to demonstrate the feasibility of the HILIC-MALDI-MSI platform for reliable quantitative analysis of N-glycans. MALDI-MSI analysis by an Orbitrap mass spectrometer enabled high-resolution and high-sensitivity detection of N-glycans eluted from HILIC column, allowing the re-construction of LC chromatograms as well as accurate mass measurements for structural inference. MALDI-MSI analysis of the collected LC traces showed that the chromatographic resolution was preserved. The N-glycans released from human serum was used to demonstrate the utility of this novel platform in quantitative analysis of N-glycans from a complex sample. Benefiting from the minimized ion suppression provided by HILIC separation, comparison between MALDI-MS and the newly developed platform HILIC-MALDI-MSI revealed that HILIC-MALDI-MSI provided higher N-glycan coverage as well as better quantitation accuracy in the quantitative analysis of N-glycans released from human serum. Graphical abstract Reconstructed chromatograms based on HILIC-MALDI-MSI results of heavy and light labeled maltodextrin enabling quantitative glycan analysis.

Assuring Consistent Performance of an Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 MALDImmunoassay by Monitoring Measurement Quality Indicators

Analytical methods based on mass spectrometry (MS) have been successfully applied in biomarker discovery studies, while the role of MS in translating biomarker candidates to clinical diagnostics is less pronounced. MALDImmunoassays—methods that combine immunoaffinity enrichment with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometric detection—are attractive analytical approaches for large-scale sample analysis by virtue of their ease of operation and high-throughput capabilities. Despite this fact, MALDImmunoassays are not widely used in clinical diagnostics, which is mainly due to the limited availability of internal standards that can adequately correct for variability in sample preparation and the MALDI process itself. Here we present a novel MALDImmunoassay for quantification of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in human plasma. Reliable IGF1 quantification in the range of 10–1000 ng/mL was achieved by employing ¹⁵N-IGF1 as internal standard, which proved to be an essential feature of the IGF1 MALDImmunoassay. The method was validated according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, which included demonstrating the effectiveness of IGF1/IGF binding protein (IGF1/IGFBP) complex dissociation using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Furthermore, the MALDImmunoassay compared well with the IDS-iSYS IGF1 immunoassay with high correlation (R² = 0.99), although substantially lower levels were reported by the MALDImmunoassay. The method was tested on >1000 samples from a cohort of renal transplant recipients to assess its performance in a clinical setting. On the basis of this study, we identified readouts to monitor the quality of the measurements. Our work shows that MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is suitable for quantitative biomarker analysis provided that an appropriate internal standard is used and that readouts are monitored to assess the quality of the measurements.

Recommendations for quantitative analysis of small molecules by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been used for quantitative analysis of small molecules for many years. It is usually preceded by an LC separation step when complex samples are tested. With the development several years ago of "modern MALDI" (automation, high repetition laser, high resolution peaks), the ease of use and performance of MALDI as a quantitative technique greatly increased. This review focuses on practical aspects of modern MALDI for quantitation of small molecules conducted in an ordinary way (no special reagents, devices or techniques for the spotting step of MALDI), and includes our ordinary, preferred methods The review is organized as 18 recommendations with accompanying explanations, criticisms and exceptions.

Quantification of low molecular weight compounds by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry - A tutorial review

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) permits label-free in situ analysis of chemical compounds directly from the surface of two-dimensional biological tissue slices. It links qualitative molecular information of compounds to their spatial coordinates and distribution within the investigated tissue. MALDI-MSI can also provide the quantitative amounts of target compounds in the tissue, if proper calibration techniques are performed. Obviously, as the target molecules are embedded within the biological tissue environment and analysis must be performed at their precise locations, there is no possibility for extensive sample clean-up routines or chromatographic separations as usually performed with homogenized biological materials; ion suppression phenomena therefore become a critical side effect of MALDI-MSI. Absolute quantification by MALDI-MSI should provide an accurate value of the concentration/amount of the compound of interest in relatively small, well-defined region of interest of the examined tissue, ideally in a single pixel. This goal is extremely challenging and will not only depend on the technical possibilities and limitations of the MSI instrument hardware, but equally on the chosen calibration/standardization strategy. These strategies are the main focus of this article and are discussed and contrasted in detail in this tutorial review. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: MALDI Imaging, edited by Dr. Corinna Henkel and Prof. Peter Hoffmann.

Critical factors determining the quantification capability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization- time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Quantitative analysis with mass spectrometry (MS) is important but challenging. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) coupled with time-of-flight (TOF) MS offers superior sensitivity, resolution and speed, but such techniques have numerous disadvantages that hinder quantitative analyses. This review summarizes essential obstacles to analyte quantification with MALDI-TOF MS, including the complex ionization mechanism of MALDI, sensitive characteristics of the applied electric fields and the mass-dependent detection efficiency of ion detectors. General quantitative ionization and desorption interpretations of ion production are described. Important instrument parameters and available methods of MALDI-TOF MS used for quantitative analysis are also reviewed.This article is part of the themed issue 'Quantitative mass spectrometry'.

Integrated Microfluidic Aptasensor for Mass Spectrometric Detection of Vasopressin in Human Plasma Ultrafiltrate

We present a microfluidic aptamer-based biosensor for detection of low-molecular-weight biomarkers in patient samples. Using a microfluidic device that integrates aptamer-based specific analyte extraction, isocratic elution, and detection by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, we demonstrate rapid, sensitive and label-free detection of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in human plasma ultrafiltrate. AVP molecules in complex matrices are specifically captured by an aptamer that is immobilized on microbeads via affinity binding in a microchamber. After the removal of unbound, contaminating molecules through washing, aptamer-AVP complexes are thermally disrupted via on-chip temperature control. Released AVP molecules are eluted with purified water and transferred to a separate microchamber, and deposited onto a single spot on a MALDI plate via repeated, piezoelectrically actuated ejection, which enriches AVP molecules over the spot area. This integrated on-chip sample processing enables the quantitative detection of low-abundance AVP by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in a rapid and label-free manner. Our experimental results show the detection of AVP in human plasma ultrafiltrate as low as physiologically relevant picomolar concentrations via aptamer-based selective preconcentration, demonstrating the potential of our approach as a rapid (~ 1hr), sensitive clinical AVP assay.

Quantification of the PR-39 cathelicidin compound in porcine blood by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

The PR-39 porcine cathelicidin occurs naturally in animal neutrophils. Its main function is antimicrobial activity, which potentially can be used in antibiotic treatments in veterinary medicine. Investigations concerning such a use require the detection and quantification of PR-39 in a given sample. The aim of this work is to determine the concentration of PR-39 contained in porcine blood.

METHODS

Prior to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) analysis, the porcine blood sample was subjected to crude extraction in order to release the active form of PR-39 from the neutrophil granules. Next, gel filtration chromatography was performed to separate PR-39 from other cathelicidins present in porcine blood. Positive ion MALDI time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectra of the resulting portion of lyophilisate with unknown PR-39 content were acquired in linear mode. To quantify PR-39 in the lyophilisate sample, the standard addition method was applied. The PR-39 concentration obtained in the lyophilisate sample was then converted into the peptide concentration in porcine blood.

RESULTS

The linear fit function of the constructed calibration curve indicates an excellent correlation between the PR-39 peak intensity and the added quantity of synthetic PR-39 (R(2) = 0.994) and a low relative standard deviation of the slope = 1.98%. From the x-intercept of the straight line, we estimated the PR-39 concentration in porcine blood to be 20.5 ± 4.6 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

The MALDI method was successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of PR-39 found in porcine blood. Compared with other available methods, it is relatively easy, inexpensive and not time-consuming. Despite the method having lower accuracy than the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the results obtained here, by a much simpler method, are in good agreement with the literature data.

A uniform 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid layer as a matrix for MALDI-FTICR MS-based lipidomics

A very uniform 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB)–analyte co-crystal was skillfully constructed for lipidomics study by MALDI-FTICR MS.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the monitoring of she-donkey's milk contamination or adulteration

Donkey's milk (DM), representing a safe and alternative food in both IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated cow's milk protein allergy, can be categorized as precious pharma-food. Moreover, an economically relevant interest for the use of DM in cosmetology is also developing. The detection of adulterations and contaminations of DM is a matter of fundamental importance from both an economic and allergenic standpoint, and, to this aim, fast and efficient analytical approaches to assess the authenticity of this precious nutrient are desirable. Here, a rapid matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based method aimed to the detection of bovine or caprine milk in raw DM is reported. The presence of the extraneous milks was revealed by monitoring the protein profiles of the most abundant whey proteins, α-lactalbumin (α-LA) and β-lactoglobulin, used as molecular markers. The possibility of obtaining a quantitative analysis of the level of cow or goat milk in DM based on the MALDI-TOF peak areas of α-LAs was also explored. The results showed that the experimental quantitative values were in good agreement with the real composition of each mixture. As pretreatment of the milk samples is not required, and owing to the speed and the high sensitivity of MALDI-MS, the protocol here reported could represent a reliable method for routine analyses aimed to assess the absence of contamination in raw fresh DM samples.

Development of nanomaterials for SALDI-MS analysis in forensics

Within the last decade, the escalation of research output in the field of nanotechnology has spurred the development of new nanomaterials for use as assisting agents in surface assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS). Specifically modified nanomaterials, coupled with mass spectrometry, have improved the detection sensitivity, specificity, flexibility and reproducibility of SALDI-MS analysis. The technological advancement of LDI-MS has in turn, propelled the use of the analytical technique in the field of forensics. In this report, the various roles and applications of metal-, silicon- and carbon-based nanostructured materials as SALDI matrices in the analysis of forensic samples are described. The advantages of SALDI-MS as an analytical tool for forensic sample analysis are also discussed.

A simple and rapid method for identifying and semi-quantifying peptide hormones in isolated pancreatic islets by direct-tissue matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

We describe a new, simple, robust and efficient method based on direct-tissue matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry that enables consistent semi-quantitation of peptide hormones in isolated pancreatic islets from normal and diabetic rodents. Prominent signals were measured that corresponded to all the main peptide hormones present in islet-endocrine cells: (α-cells) glucagon, glicentin-related polypeptide/GRPP; (β-cells) insulin I, insulin II, C-peptide I, C-peptide II, amylin; (δ-cells) somatostatin-14; and (PP-cells), and pancreatic polypeptide. The signal ratios coincided with known relative hormone abundances. The method demonstrated that severe insulin deficiency is accompanied by elevated levels of all non-β-cell-hormones in diabetic rat islets, consistent with alleviation of paracrine suppression of hormone production by non-β-cells. It was also effective in characterizing hormonal phenotype in hemizygous human-amylin transgenic mice that express human and mouse amylin in approx. equimolar quantities. Finally, the method demonstrated utility in basic peptide-hormone discovery by identifying a prominent new Gcg-gene-derived peptide (theoretical monoisotopic molecular weight 3263.5 Da), closely related to but distinct from GRPP, in diabetic islets. This peptide, whose sequence is HAPQDTEENARSFPASQTEPLEDPNQINE in Rattus norvegicus, could be a peptide hormone whose roles in physiology and metabolic disease warrant further investigation. This method provides a powerful new approach that could provide important new insights into the physiology and regulation of peptide hormones in islets and other endocrine tissues. It has potentially wide-ranging applications that encompass endocrinology, pharmacology, phenotypic analysis in genetic models of metabolic disease, and hormone discovery, and could also effectively limit the numbers of animals required for such studies.

Triacylglycerol profiling of marine microalgae by mass spectrometry

We present a method for the determination of triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles of oleaginous saltwater microalgae relevant for the production of biofuels, bioactive lipids, and high-value lipid-based chemical precursors. We describe a technique to remove chlorophyll using quick, simple solid phase extraction (SPE) and directly compare the intact TAG composition of four microalgae species (Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Nannochloropsis salina, Nannochloropsis oculata, and Tetraselmis suecica) using MALDI time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS), ESI linear ion trap-orbitrap (LTQ Orbitrap) MS, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Direct MS analysis is particularly effective to compare the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition for triacylglycerols because oxidation can often degrade samples upon derivatization. Using these methods, we observed that T. suecica contains significant PUFA levels with respect to other microalgae. This method is applicable for high-throughput MS screening of microalgae TAG profiles and may aid in the commercial development of biofuels.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle enrichment of phosphopeptides on a radiate microstructure MALDI chip

Several methods can be used to improve the enrichment of phosphorylated proteins. In this paper, phosphopeptides were enriched using magnetic iron(II,III) oxide (magnetite, Fe(3)O(4)) nanoparticles (NPs) on a radiate microstructure silicon chip and then analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) without further purification processes. We have developed a radiate microstructure chip on which samples can be concentrated for analysis by MALDI-TOFMS. The phosphoprotein digests and magnetic iron oxide NPs aqueous solution were deposited onto the central zone of the radiate microstructure silicon chip and enabled the on-chip enrichment of phosphopeptides. Microscopic analysis confirmed that the applied samples were confined to the central zone. Sample spots focused on the chip were much smaller than those on an unmodified plate with the same total volume. Different additives were used and optimized processes were performed to minimize non-phosphopeptides interference. These data collectively demonstrate that our on-chip phosphopeptide enrichment protocol is a rapid and easy-to-use method for phosphoproteome analysis.

Quantitative analysis of phospholipids using nanostructured laser desorption ionization targets

Since its introduction as an ionization technique in mass spectrometry, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) has been applied to a wide range of applications. Quantitative small molecule analysis by MALDI, however, is limited due to the presence of intense signals from the matrix coupled with non-homogeneous surfaces. The surface used in nano-structured laser desorption ionization (NALDI) eliminates the need for a matrix and the resulting interferences, and allows for quantitative analysis of small molecules. This study was designed to analyze and quantitate phospholipid components of liposomes. Here we have developed an assay to quantitate the DPPC and DC(8,9)PC in liposomes by NALDI following various treatments. To test our method we chose to analyze a liposome system composed of DPPC (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and DC(8,9)PC (1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), as DC(8,9)PC is known to undergo cross-linking upon treatment with UV (254 nm) and this reaction converts the monomer into a polymer. First, calibration curves for pure lipids (DPPC and DC(8,9)PC) were created using DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) as an internal standard. The calibration curve for both DPPC and DC(8,9)PC showed an R(2) of 0.992, obtained using the intensity ratio of analyte and internal standard. Next, DPPC:DC(8,9)PC liposomes were treated with UV radiation (254 nm). Following this treatment, lipids were extracted from the liposomes and analyzed. The analysis of the lipids before and after UV exposure confirmed a decrease in the signal of DC(8,9)PC of about 90%. In contrast, there was no reduction in DPPC signal.

Quantitative determination of nicotinic acid in micro liter volume of urine sample by drop-to-drop solvent microextraction coupled to matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Drop-to-drop solvent microextraction (DDSME) coupled with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) for quantitative determination of nicotinic acid in one drop of urine sample has been proposed. All parameters, such as type of organic solvent, extraction time, exposure volume solvent, pH of the sample solution that affecting the separation and preconcentration of nicotinic acid were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit of the method was 20 ng mL(-1) and the relative standard deviations (RSD) for determination of the nicotinic acid were in the range of 8.0-12.5%. The calculated calibration curves gave linearity in the range of 80-1000 ng mL(-1). The main advantages of the proposed method are simple, fast, and small amount of sample solution is used for separation and preconcentration of nicotinic acid. This method could be also useful for the analysis of other interested analytes in small volume of biological samples, like plasma, saliva and urine, where the availability of samples are limited.

Enhanced matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of bacteriophage major capsid proteins with beta-mercaptoethanol pretreatment

Bacteriophage (phage) proteins have been analyzed previously with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). However, analysis of phage major capsid proteins (MCPs) has been limited by the ability to reproducibly generate ions from MCP monomers. While the acidic conditions of MALDI-TOF MS sample preparation have been shown to aid in disassembly of some phage capsids, many require further treatment to successfully liberate MCP monomers. The findings presented here suggest that beta-mercaptoethanol reduction of the disulfide bonds linking phage MCPs prior to mass spectrometric analysis results in significantly increased MALDI-TOF MS sensitivity and reproducibility of Yersinia pestis-specific phage protein profiles.

Rapid simultaneous quantitative determination of different small pharmaceutical drugs using a conventional matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry system

The present study establishes a simple, rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous quantification of different small pharmaceutical drugs using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization source (MALDI) coupled with a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer. Neither time-consuming sample preparation, nor special target plates, isotopically labelled internal standards or other extra equipment are necessary. A simple standard dried-droplet preparation with the common matrix alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) was used. The background signals of CHCA in the low-mass region did not pose the presumed problem, because the sensitivity, resolution and mass accuracy of a modern MALDI-TOF MS system is sufficient to overcome this difficulty. Four experiments were performed in order to verify the quantification method. First, ten different phenothiazines were quantified in the range of 5-2000 nM (1-880 ng/mL). A good precision (relative standard deviation (RSD) 4.4-9.3%), linearity (R2 >0.99) and accuracy (error 4.7-11%) was obtained in all cases. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of these ten phenothiazines was carried out in human plasma without prior chromatographic separation in the range of 2-1750 ng/mL yielding good linearity, precision and accuracy (mean RSD 7.6%; R2 >0.99, mean error 8.0%). Accordingly, a quantitative analysis of ten chemically and pharmaceutically unrelated drugs was performed in the same way. A comparable linearity (R2 >0.99), precision (mean RSD 7.6%) and accuracy (mean error 8.3%) was obtained in the range of 5-2000 nM. Finally, the prazosin content of a commercial tablet was directly determined without further purification steps.

Aniline/alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid is a highly versatile ionic liquid for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The performance of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) ionic liquid matrix (ILM) consisting of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and aniline (ANI) was evaluated to assess whether it could offer possible advantages over conventional matrices. Ultraviolet (UV), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) experiments were carried out with the aim of confirming the structure of the ANI-CHCA ILM. Different model analytes such as amino acids, peptides, proteins, lipids, phospholipids, synthetic polymers, and sugars were tested. Mass spectra with similar or improved signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio (compared to CHCA) were invariably obtained demonstrating the potential of this ILM as a general purpose matrix. Furthermore, protein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) and database search was facilitated compared to CHCA since higher scores and increased sequence coverage were observed. Finally, a complex lipid mixture (i.e. a raw extract of a milk sample) analysed by MALDI-MS showed improved S/N ratio, a reduced chemical noise and a limited formation of matrix-clusters.

Quantitative matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

This review summarizes the essential characteristics of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS), especially as they relate to its applications in quantitative analysis. Approaches to quantification by MALDI-TOF MS are presented and published applications are critically reviewed.

Quantitative analysis of backbone-cyclised peptides in plants

Progress in understanding the biosynthetic pathway of the cyclotides has been hampered as this unique family of cyclic plant peptides are notoriously difficult to analyse by standard proteomic approaches such as gel electrophoresis. We have developed a simple, rapid and robust strategy for the quantification of cyclotides in crude plant extracts using MALDI-TOF MS making use of generic peptides similar in mass to the analyte as internal standards for calibration. Linearity (r(2)>0.99) over two orders of magnitude (down to femtomole levels) was achieved in plant extracts, allowing quantitative analysis of transgenic and endogenous peptide expression.

A binary matrix of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and glycerol produces homogenous sample preparations for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

We introduce a two-component matrix for ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (UV-MALDI-MS) that consists of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and glycerol. Upon slow evaporation of residual water/methanol solvents in a pre-vacuum chamber sample preparations are obtained that exhibit a homogeneous morphology with analyte-matrix crystals evenly distributed over the whole sample spot. At a molar DHB/glycerol ratio of approximately 1:5, the crystals range in length from approximately 100 to 300 microm and are about 15-30 microm wide. Mass spectra of peptides, proteins, and an oligosaccharide are presented and compared with those recorded from standard dried-droplet DHB matrix. The ion signals show a reproducibility of the order of 10-15% when scanning the surface of an individual sample or even different samples that contain the same amount of peptide, A close to linear relationship between peptide concentration and the corresponding peptide ion signal is found over three orders of magnitude of sample prepared. However, when a fixed position is irradiated with a large number of laser pulses, a monotonous decay of peptide ion signal with time is observed. Potentially, the binary matrix will be especially useful for the analysis of samples that are stabilized in buffered aqueous glycerol solution and preliminary results addressing this aspect are shown.

Quantification of cysteine oxidation in human estrogen receptor by mass spectrometry

Redox-dependent modifications of sulfhydryl groups within the two Cys4 zinc fingers of the estrogen receptor DNA-binding domain (ER-DBD) result in structural damage and loss of ER DNA-binding function, which parallels the situation observed in many ER-positive breast cancers. Quantitation of the redox status of cysteinyl thiols within ER-DBD employed cysteine-specific oxidants to induce varying degrees of oxidation in recombinant ER, followed by differential alkylation with the stable isotopic labeling reagents [12C2]-iodoacetic acid and [13C2]-bromoacetic acid. Subsequent proteolysis with LysC/Asp-N generated diagnostic peptides of which the C-terminal peptide of the second zinc finger is most strongly detected by mass spectrometry (MS) and serves as a suitable marker of ER-DBD redox status. Data were collected from two different MALDI-MS instruments: a time-of-flight and a linear ion trap (vMALDI-LIT). An analogous but larger synthetic peptide treated with three isotopic variants of the alkylating reagent modeled isotopic overlaps that might complicate the relative quantitation of cysteine oxidation. Despite the isotopic overlaps, excellent relative quantitation was achieved from MS data obtained from both instruments. This was also true of tandem MS/MS data from the vMALDI-LIT, which should facilitate selected reaction monitoring. Relative quantitation by MS also closely matched data from immunochemical methods.

Characterization of aliphatic hyperbranched polyesters by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

In this work, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used for the characterization of aliphatic hyperbranched polyesters (AHBP), synthesized from 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (bis-MPA) and di-trimethylolpropane. From the obtained results it was concluded that it was not possible to take complete advantages of MALDI-TOF MS in this particular case, since the AHBP used in this work were polydisperse. The intensity of the signals from the high mass tail of these samples (pseudo generation higher than four) was underestimated and insufficient to distinguish it from the baseline and to use it for the analysis of the spectra. As a consequence of that, lower values of the Mn were obtained. At the same time, Mw were also underestimated, which led to very low values of the polydispersity index. On the other hand, it was possible to obtain molar masses of individual molecules from the MALDI-TOF mass spectra of AHBP and to qualitatively determine the extent of cyclization (side reactions) at each degree of polymerization. Using the adequate set of equations and results obtained from MALDI-TOF mass spectra of AHBP, every signal from the spectra was identified. The obtained results show that formation of poly(bis-MPA), intramolecular esterification and intramolecular etherification occurred as side reactions during the synthesis of these polyesters. The relative amount of the cycles increases with the number of pseudo generation (from the second up to the fifth pseudo generation). It was also observed that the relative proportion of the signals which represent cyclic structures increases with the increasing degree of polymerization. In this work the basic principles of MALDI-TOF MS are also presented, as well as, a review of adequate published articles.

Quantification of angiotensin-converting-enzyme-mediated degradation of human chemerin 145-154 in plasma by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Chemerin is a chemoattractive protein acting as a ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor ChemR23/CMKLR1 and plays an important role in the innate and adaptive immunity. Proteolytic processing of its C terminus is essential for receptor binding and physiological activity. Therefore, we investigated the plasma stability of the decapeptide chemerin 145-154 (P(145)-F(154)) corresponding to the C terminus of the physiologically active chemerin variant E(21)-F(154) from human hemofiltrate. For monitoring concentration-time profiles and degradation products we developed a novel matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry procedure using an internal peptide standard (hemorphin LVV-H7) for quantification. The linear range covers 2.5 orders of magnitude in the lower micromolar concentration range (lower limit of quantification 0.312 microg/ml, 0.25 microM) characterized by satisfactory reproducibility (CV < or =9%), accuracy (< or =10%), ruggedness, and recovery (98%). We found that chemerin 145-154 is C-terminally truncated in human citrate plasma by the cleavage of the penultimate dipeptidyl residue. N-terminal truncation was not observed. In contrast to citrate plasma, no degradation was detected in ethylenediammetetraacetate (EDTA) plasma. We identified angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) to be responsible for C-terminal truncation, which could be completely inhibited by EDTA and captopril. These results are relevant to clarify the natural processing of chemerin and the potential involvement of ACE in mediating the immune response.

Ionic (liquid) matrices for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry-applications and perspectives

A large number of matrix substances have been used for various applications in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS). The majority of matrices applied in ultraviolet-MALDI MS are crystalline, low molecular weight compounds. A problem encountered with many of these matrices is the formation of hot spots, which lead to inhomogeneous samples, thus leading to increased measurement times and hampering the application of MALDI MS for quantitative purposes. Recently, ionic (liquid) matrices (ILM or IM) have been introduced as a potential alternative to the classical crystalline matrices. ILM are equimolar mixtures of conventional MALDI matrix compounds such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CCA) or sinapinic acid (SA) together with organic bases [e.g., pyridine (Py), tributylamine (TBA) or N,N-dimethylethylenediamine (DMED)]. The present article presents a first overview of this new class of matrices. Characteristic properties of ILM, their influence on mass spectrometric parameters such as sensitivity, resolution and adduct formation and their application in the fields of proteome analysis, the measurement of low molecular weight compounds, the use of MALDI MS for quantitative purposes and in MALDI imaging will be presented. Scopes and limitations for the application of ILM are discussed.

Nile Red-Adsorbed Gold Nanoparticle Matrixes for Determining Aminothiols through Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

This paper describes the use of Nile Red-adsorbed gold nanoparticles (NRAuNPs) as selective probes and matrixes for the determination of aminothiols through surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS). The binding of three aminothiols-glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), and homocysteine (HCys)-to the surfaces of these NRAuNPs induces their aggregation, which causes asubsequent changes in their color and fluorescence. Because arginine-a non-thiol amino acid-does not induce such aggregation, it is a straightforward process to use the NRAuNPs to selectively concentrate the aminothiols from a solution containing all four of these analytes; we were able to identify the three aminothiols in the precipitate, and arginine in the supernatant, directly through SALDI-MS measurements. Without using this preconcentration approach, the limits of detection (LODs) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were 1.0, 2.0, and 1.3 microM for GSH, Cys, and HCys, respectively. In comparison, selective concentration using the NRAuNPs provided LODs of 25, 54, and 34 nM, for the determinations of GSH, Cys, and HCys, respectively. NRAuNP matrixes provide a number of advantages over the use of conventional organic matrixes (e.g., 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid), such as ease of preparation, selectivity, sensitivity, and repeatability. We validated the applicability of our method through the analyses of GSH in red blood cells and of Cys in plasma; we believe that this approach has great potential for diagnosis.

Determination of nicotine in mainstream smoke on the single puff level by liquid-phase microextraction coupled to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry

A method coupling liquid-phase microextraction with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LPME/MALDI-FTMS) was developed to measure the content of nicotine in mainstream smoke at the single puff level. Glycerol was utilized as a matrix additive in the sample preparation to improve the homogeneity of analyte distribution in a sample spot. Good repeatability of the MALDI-MS signal (RSD <9%) was achieved by the method. Selective LPME facilitated the separation and purification of basic components from cigarette smoke. The LPME device was coupled to a smoking machine, and each puff of one cigarette could be gathered by this modified machine. The amount of nicotine in the mainstream smoke was measured at the single puff level by LPME/MALDI-FTMS. The method was simple and selective and was sufficiently sensitive to detect nicotine in each puff of one cigarette. The method thus offered an alternative approach to the study of the formation mechanism of cigarette smoke constituents.

Assessing the properties of internal standards for quantitative matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of small molecules

Growing interest in the ability to conduct quantitative assays for small molecules by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) has been the driving force for several recent studies. This present work includes the investigation of internal standards for these analyses using a high-repetition rate MALDI triple quadrupole instrument. Certain physicochemical properties are assessed for predicting possible matches for internal standards for different small molecules. The importance of similar molecular weight of an internal standard to its analyte is seen through experiments with a series of acylcarnitines, having a fixed charge site and growing alkyl chain length. Both acetyl- and hexanoyl-carnitine were systematically assessed with several other acylcarnitine compounds as internal standards. The results clearly demonstrate that closely matched molecular weights between analyte and internal standard are essential for acceptable quantitation results. Using alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid as the organic matrix, the similarities between analyte and internal standard remain the most important parameter and not necessarily their even distribution within the solid sample spot. Several 4-quinolone antibiotics as well as a diverse group of pharmaceutical drugs were tested as internal standards for the 4-quinolone, ciprofloxacin. Quantitative results were shown using the solution-phase properties, log D and pKa, of these molecules. Their distribution coefficients, log D, are demonstrated as a fundamental parameter for similar crystallization patterns of analyte and internal standard. In the end, it was also possible to quantify ciprofloxacin using a drug from a different compound class, namely quinidine, having a similar log D value as the analyte.