Characterisation of serum transthyretin by electrospray ionisation-ion mobility mass spectrometry: Application to familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy type I (FAP-I)

On-Line Immunoaffinity Solid-Phase Extraction Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Serum Transthyretin

The analysis of low abundant proteins in biological fluids by capillary electrophoresis (CE) is particularly problematic due to the typically poor concentration limits of detection of microscale separation techniques. Another important issue is sample matrix complexity that requires an appropriate cleanup. Here, we describe an on-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (IA-SPE-CE-MS) method for the immunoextraction, preconcentration, separation, detection, and characterization of serum transthyretin (TTR). TTR is a protein biomarker related to diverse types of amyloidosis, such as familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy type I (FAP-I), which is the most common hereditary systemic amyloidosis.

The application of ion-mobility mass spectrometry for structure/function investigation of protein complexes

Ion-mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) is an approach that can provide information on the stoichiometry, composition, protein contacts and topology of protein complexes. The power of this approach lies not only in its sensitivity and speed of analysis, but also in the fact that it is a technique that can capture the repertoire of conformational states adopted by protein assemblies. Here, we describe the array of available IM-MS based tools, and demonstrate their application to the structural characterization of various protein complexes, including challenging systems as amyloid aggregates and membrane proteins. We also discuss recent studies in which IM-MS was applied towards investigations of conformational transitions and stabilization effects induced by protein interactions.

Systemic amyloidoses and proteomics: The state of the art

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Proteomics is an established approach for diagnostic amyloid typing.

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Mass spectrometry-based methods to analyze amyloid precursors have been developed.

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Proteomic studies are ongoing to identify novel biomarkers and clarify disease mechanisms.

Systemic amyloidoses are caused by misfolding-prone proteins that polymerize in tissues, causing organ dysfunction. Since proteins are etiological agents of these diseases, proteomics was soon recognized as a privileged instrument for their investigation. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics has acquired a fundamental role in management of systemic amyloidoses, being now considered a gold standard approach for amyloid typing. In parallel, approaches for analyzing circulating amyloid precursors have been developed. Moreover, differential and functional proteomics hold promise for identifying novel biomarkers and clarifying disease mechanisms. This review discusses recent proteomics achievements in systemic amyloidoses, providing a perspective on its present and future applications.