High-resolution capillary isoelectric focusing-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for hemoglobin variants analysis

Microstrip isoelectric focusing with deep learning for simultaneous screening of diabetes, anemia, and thalassemia

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobin (Hb) is an important protein in red blood cells and a crucial diagnostic indicator of diseases, e.g., diabetes, thalassemia, and anemia. However, there is a rare report on methods for the simultaneous screening of diabetes, anemia, and thalassemia. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) is a common separative tool for the separation and analysis of Hb. However, the current analysis of IEF images is time-consuming and cannot be used for simultaneous screening. Therefore, an artificial intelligence (AI) of IEF image recognition is desirable for accurate, sensitive, and low-cost screening.

RESULTS

Herein, we proposed a novel comprehensive method based on microstrip isoelectric focusing (mIEF) for detecting the relative content of Hb species. There was a good coincidence between the quantitation of Hb via a conventional automated hematology analyzer and the one via mIEF with R2 = 0.9898. Nevertheless, our results showed that the accuracy of disease diagnosis based on the quantification of Hb species alone is as low as 69.33 %, especially for the simultaneous screening of multiple diseases of diabetes, anemia, alpha-thalassemia, and beta-thalassemia. Therefore, we introduced a ResNet1D-based diagnosis model for the improvement of screening accuracy of multiple diseases. The results showed that the proposed model could achieve a high accuracy of more than 90 % and a good sensitivity of more than 96 % for each disease, indicating the overwhelming advantage of the mIEF method combined with deep learning in contrast to the pure mIEF method.

SIGNIFICANCE

Overall, the presented method of mIEF with deep learning enabled, for the first time, the absolute quantitative detection of Hb, relative quantitation of Hb species, and simultaneous screening of diabetes, anemia, alpha-thalassemia, and beta-thalassemia. The AI-based diagnosis assistant system combined with mIEF, we believe, will help doctors and specialists perform fast and precise disease screening in the future.

Diagnosis and screening of abnormal hemoglobins

Hemoglobin (Hb) abnormalities, such as thalassemia and structural Hb variants, are among the most prevalent inherited diseases and are associated with significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. However, there were not comprehensive reviews focusing on different clinical analytical techniques, research methods and artificial intelligence (AI) used in clinical screening and research on hemoglobinopathies. Hence the review offers a comprehensive summary of recent advancements and breakthroughs in the detection of aberrant Hbs, research methods and AI uses as well as the present restrictions anddifficulties in hemoglobinopathies. Recent advances in cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), isoelectric focusing (IEF), flow cytometry, mass spectrometry (MS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) etc have allowed for the definitive detection by using advanced AIand portable point of care tests (POCT) integrating with smartphone microscopic classification, machine learning (ML) model, complete blood counts (CBC), imaging-based method, speedy immunoassay, and electrochemical-, microfluidic- and sensing-related platforms. In addition, to confirm and validate unidentified and novel Hbs, highly specialized genetic based techniques like PCR, reverse transcribed (RT)-PCR, DNA microarray, sequencing of genomic DNA, and sequencing of RT-PCR amplified globin cDNA of the gene of interest have been used. Hence, adequate utilization and improvement of available diagnostic and screening technologies are important for the control and management of hemoglobinopathies.

An efficient isoelectric focusing of microcolumn array chip for screening of adult Beta-Thalassemia

Traditional capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF), liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) still suffered from low resolution for hemoglobinopathy screening. Herein, a 30-mm pH 5.2-7.8 microcolumn IEF (mIEF) array chip was developed for hemoglobinopathy screening. As a proof of concept, adult beta-thalassemia was chosen as a model disease. In the method, blood samples were hemolyzed via hemolysin solution and loaded into the microcolumn. The experiments showed that (i) the species of Hb A, F, A₂ and variants were clearly separated in the chip, and the resolution was greatly higher than the ones of LC/CZE/cIEF; (ii) up to 24 samples could be simultaneously analyzed in 12-min run; (iii) the intraday and interday RSDs were respectively 3.32-4.91 % and 4.07-5.33 %. The assays of mIEF to total 634 samples were compared with the ones of LC (n = 327) and PCR (n = 307). The cutoff of 3.5 % HbA₂ led to the sensitivity of 100 % and specificity of 89.1 % for the mIEF-based screening; and there was 96.7 % coincidence between the methods of mIEF and PCR if refer Hb A₂ and F. The method had the merits of facility, efficiency, specificity and sensitivity in contrast to the currently-used methods, implying its potential to screening of beta-thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies.

Microchip UV absorbance detection applied to isoelectric focusing of proteins

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) is considered as an attractive separation technique for biologically amphoteric compounds (e.g., proteins and peptides) based on their isoelectric point (pI). With the advancement in micromachining technology, microchip format IEF has attracted significant attention. Both single-point and whole column imaging detection (WCID) methods have been employed for analyzing the separation performance in a microchip. WCID is more favorable than single-point detection because the latter requires the focused bands to be mobilized and thus adds more complexity to the design and operation of such microchips. Fluorescence- and UV absorbance-based WCID have been successfully adapted in glass and PDMS microchips. We have developed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchips for IEF applications where UV-WCID is employed for evaluating the separation performance. The chips are designed for use in the iCE280 analyzer (Convergent Bioscience Inc., Toronto), for capillary-based IEF where UV-WCID is employed for analyzing the separation performance. Three kinds of microchips that have been successfully developed using standard soft lithography technology are described in detail.

Facilitating the hyphenation of CIEF and MALDI-MS for two-dimensional separation of proteins

Both CIEF and MALDI-MS are frequently used in protein analysis, but hyphenation of the two has not been investigated proportionally. One of the major reasons is that the additives (such as carrier ampholytes and detergent) in CIEF severely suppress the MALDI-MS signal, which hampers the hyphenation of the two. In this paper, we develop a simple means to alleviate the above signal-suppressing effect. We first deposit 1 microL of water onto a MALDI-MS target, deliver a fraction of CIEF-separated protein (approximately 0.1 microL) to the water droplet, evaporate the solvent, add 0.5 microL of MALDI matrix to the sample spot, dry the matrix and move the target plate to a MALDI-TOF-MS for mass spectrum measurement. We optimize the droplet volume and the laser-ablation region. Under the optimized conditions, we improve the S/N by two- to tenfold. We also apply this method for 2-D separations of standard proteins and apolipoprotein A-I, a membrane protein expressed in Escherichia coli cells.

Online CIEF-ESI-MS in glycerol-water media with a view to hydrophobic protein applications

A new online coupling of CIEF with ESI-MS has been developed in glycerol-water media. This improved protocol provides: (i) the electric continuity during the whole analysis by a discontinuous filling of the capillary with 60:40 (cm/cm) catholyte/proteins-ampholyte mixture; (ii) the use of an anticonvective medium, i.e. 30:70 glycerol/water, v/v, compatible with MS detection and as an aid to hydrophobic protein solubilization and (iii) the use of unmodified bare fused-silica capillaries, as the glycerol/water medium strongly reduces EOF. Focusing was performed in positive polarity and cathodic mobilization was achieved by both voltage and pressure application. The setup was optimized with respect to analysis time, sensitivity and precision on pI determination. The optimized anolyte and catholyte were composed of 50 mM formic acid/1 mM glutamic acid (pH 2.35) and 100 mM NH(3)/1 mM lysine (pH 10.6), respectively. The effects of ampholyte concentration, focusing time and ESI parameters were presented for model proteins and discussed. This new integrated protocol should be an easy and effective additional tool in the field of proteome analysis, providing a means for the characterization of a large number of hydrophilic and hydrophobic proteins.

Capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry for the analysis of intact proteins

Developments in the fields of protein chemistry, proteomics and biotechnology have increased the demand for suitable analytical techniques for the analysis of intact proteins. In 1989, capillary electrophoresis (CE) was combined with mass spectrometry (MS) for the first time and its potential usefulness for the analysis of intact (i.e. non-digested) proteins was shown. This article provides an overview of the applications of CE-MS within the field of intact protein analysis. The principles of the applied CE modes and ionization techniques used for CE-MS of intact proteins are shortly described. It is shown that separations are predominantly carried out by capillary zone electrophoresis and capillary isoelectric focusing, whereas electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) are the most popular ionization techniques used for interfacing. The combination of CE with inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS for the analysis of metalloproteins is also discussed. The various CE-MS combinations are systematically outlined and tables provide extensive overviews of the applications of each technique for intact protein analysis. Selected examples are given to illustrate the usefulness of the CE-MS techniques. Examples include protein isoform assignment, single cell analysis, metalloprotein characterization, proteomics and biomarker screening. Finally, chip-based electrophoresis combined with MS is shortly treated and some of its applications are described. It is concluded that CE-MS represents a powerful tool for the analysis of intact proteins yielding unique separations and information.

Advances in hyphenated analytical techniques for shotgun proteome and peptidome analysis--a review

Proteomics is defined as the analysis of part or all of the protein components of a complex biological system (a cell, organ or tissue) at a given moment. Due to the huge number of proteins encoded by the genome, novel analytical techniques must be developed to meet the need of large scale analysis. This has led to the hyphenation of multiple techniques to achieve this object. Here current status of the hyphenated analytical techniques of one-dimensional and multidimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for shotgun proteomic analysis is reviewed, and on-line techniques for automated sample preparation and injection are also covered. In addition, the hyphenated techniques for peptidome analysis are also covered.

Using size exclusion chromatography-RPLC and RPLC-CIEF as two-dimensional separation strategies for protein profiling

Bottom-up proteomics (analyzing peptides that result from protein digestion) has demonstrated capability for broad proteome coverage and good throughput. However, due to incomplete sequence coverage, this approach is not ideally suited to the study of modified proteins. The modification complement of a protein can best be elucidated by analyzing the intact protein. 2-DE, typically coupled with the analysis of peptides that result from in-gel digestion, is the most frequently applied protein separation technique in MS-based proteomics. As an alternative, numerous column-based liquid phase techniques, which are generally more amenable to automation, are being investigated. In this work, the combination of size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) fractionation with RPLC-Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)-MS is compared with the combination of RPLC fractionation with CIEF-FTICR-MS for the analysis of the Shewanella oneidensis proteome. SEC-RPLC-FTICR-MS allowed the detection of 297 proteins, as opposed to 166 using RPLC-CIEF-FTICR-MS, indicating that approaches based on LC-MS provide better coverage. However, there were significant differences in the sets of proteins detected and both approaches provide a basis for accurately quantifying changes in protein and modified protein abundances.

Supramolecular systems-based extraction-separation techniques coupled to mass spectrometry

The combination of supramolecular chemistry and MS has not only been fruitful in the field of gas-phase fundamental studies of host-guest complexes and supramolecular assemblies. Mass spectrometric analysis has also benefited from the ability of supramolecular systems to behave as pseudophases in which solutes partition from the bulk solvent phase. Supramolecular systems-based extraction and concentration schemes and separation techniques have been widely used in different fields of analytical chemistry and are ideally suited for coupling with MS. This review describes the present status of the application of supramolecular chemistry in mass spectrometric analysis and includes topics such as the use of coacervative liquid-liquid extraction and hemimicelle/admicelle-based SPE of organic compounds prior to chromatography and electrophoresis. It also discusses the recent advances in enantioselective analysis using CD in electrophoresis- and chromatography-MS. The potential and analytical challenges of these approaches in environmental and bioanalytical chemistry, where one can expect significant developments in the future, are outlined.

CE-based analysis of hemoglobin and its applications in clinical analysis

This review focuses on the developments and trends in CE including CIEF, CZE, MEKC, two-dimensional conjunction of CIEF-capillary gel electrophoresis, and MEKC-CZE on microfluidic devices coupled to different detection approaches, such as UV absorbance, LIF, MS, and chemiluminescence etc. for performing analysis of hemoglobin (Hb), also with an emphasis on its applications in clinical analysis. Analysis of human Hb is of important clinical sense for numerous hemoglobinopathies associated with the congenital defects and abnormal contents of Hb. The diversiform modes render CE a comprehensive primary clinical tool for Hb analysis, which is rapid, sensitive, high-resolution, and not labor-intensive.

Ion trap collision-induced dissociation of human hemoglobin alpha-chain cations

Multiply protonated human hemoglobin alpha-chain species, ranging from [M + 4H]4+ to [M + 20H]20+, have been subjected to ion trap collisional activation. Cleavages at 88 of the 140 peptide bonds were indicated, summed over all charge states, although most product ion signals were concentrated in a significantly smaller number of channels. Consistent with previous whole protein ion dissociation studies conducted under similar conditions, the structural information inherent to a given precursor ion was highly sensitive to charge state. A strongly dominant cleavage at D75/M76, also noted previously in beam-type collisional activation studies, was observed for the [M + 8H]8+ to [M + 11H]11+ precursor ions. At lower charge states, C-terminal aspartic acid cleavages were also prominent but the most abundant products did not arise from the D75/M76 channel. The [M + 12H]12+-[M + 16H]16+ precursor ions generally yielded the greatest variety of amide bond cleavages. With the exception of the [M + 4H]4+ ion, all charge states showed cleavage at the L113/P114 bond. This cleavage proved to be the most prominent dissociation for charge states [M + 14H]14+ and higher. The diversity of dissociation channels observed within the charge state range studied potentially provides the opportunity to localize residues associated with variants via a top-down tandem mass spectrometry approach.

Combining capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry for applications in proteomics

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is currently dominated by the analysis of peptides originating either from digestion of proteins separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) or from global digestion; the simple peptide mixtures obtained from digestion of gel-separated proteins do not usually require further separation, while the complex peptide mixtures obtained by global digestion are most frequently separated by chromatographic techniques. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) provides alternatives to 2-DE for protein separation and alternatives to chromatography for peptide separation. This review attempts to elucidate how the most promising CE modes, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF), might best be applied to MS-based proteomics. CE-MS interfacing, mass analyzer performance, column coating to minimize analyte adsorption, and sample stacking for CZE are considered prior to examining numerous applications. Finally, multidimensional systems that incorporate CE techniques are examined; CZE often finds use as a fast, final dimension before ionization for MS, while CIEF, being an equilibrium technique, is well-suited to being the first dimension in automated fractionation systems.

Integration of Electrokinetic-Based Multidimensional Separation/Concentration Platform with Electrospray Ionization-Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance-Mass Spectrometry for Proteome Analysis of Shewanella oneidensis

This work focuses on the development of a multidimensional electrokinetic-based separation/concentration platform coupled with electrospray ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS) for achieving the high resolution and ultrasensitive analysis of complex protein/peptide mixtures. A microdialysis junction is employed as the interface for on-line combination of capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) with transient capillary isotachophoresis/zone electrophoresis (CITP/CZE) in an integrated platform. Besides the excellent resolving power afforded by both CIEF and CZE separations, the electrokinetic focusing/stacking effects of CIEF and CITP greatly enhance the dynamic range and detection sensitivity of MS for protein identification. The constructed multidimensional separation/concentration platform is demonstrated for the analysis of Shewanella oneidensis proteome, which has considerable implications toward the bioremediation of environmental pollutants. The electrokinetic-based platform offers the overall peak capacity comparable to those obtained using multidimensional chromatography systems, but with a much shorter run time and no need for column regeneration. Most importantly, a total of 1174 unique proteins, corresponding to 26.5% proteome coverage, are identified from the cytosolic fraction of S. oneidensis, while requiring <500 ng of proteolytic digest loaded in the CIEF capillary. The ultrasensitive capabilities of electrokinetic-based proteome approach are attributed to the concentration effect in CIEF, the electrokinetic stacking of CITP, the nanoscale peak volume in CZE, the "accurate mass tag" strategy for protein/peptide identification, and the high-sensitivity, high-resolution, and high-mass measurement accuracy of FTICR-MS.

Miniaturized membrane-based reversed-phase chromatography and enzyme reactor for protein digestion, peptide separation, and protein identification using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A commonly used capillary fitting is employed for housing miniaturized membrane chromatography for performing reversed-phase peptide separations. By placing a hydrophobic and porous polyvinylidene fluoride membrane around the end of a polymer sleeve, the assembly of capillary fitting not only provides the stationary phase, but also establishes the necessary flow paths using capillary connections. The miniaturized membrane chromatography system is coupled with a micro-enzyme reactor containing immobilized trypsins for performing rapid protein digestion, peptide separation, and protein identification using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Separation performance of cytochrome c digest in miniaturized membrane chromatography is compared with the results obtained from micro-LC and capillary LC. The efficacy and the potentials of miniaturized membrane chromatography in tryptic mapping are reported. The use of miniaturized membrane chromatography allows significant reduction in sample consumption together with enhanced detection sensitivity. By minimizing the void volume in miniaturized membrane chromatography, the elution times of cytochrome c peptides are significantly shortened in this study in comparison with our previous results, and are comparable with those in micro-LC and capillary LC using considerably higher mobile phase flow-rates.

Capillary isoelectric focusing-mass spectrometry: analysis of protein mixtures from human body fluids

Isoelectric focusing within a fused silica capillary (cIEF) has proved to be a powerful and practical method for high-resolution separation of analytes from complex biological mixtures. This technique overcomes many of the problems of isoelectric focusing within slab gel media. However current cIEF systems commonly utilize UV detection which limits the detail of analyte structural information that is obtained during analysis. The use of mass spectrometry (MS) as the detection system provides much greater structural information about the detected analytes allowing accurate relative molecular mass (M(r)) determination for proteins and polypeptides. We have constructed a cIEF-MS interface and compared the separation of standard proteins analyzed by cIEF-UV with cIEF-MS. This allowed rapid optimization of the cIEF-MS system performance. Further we have demonstrated the use of MS as a detection system provides accurate M(r) information and can provide analyte modification details. These factors increase the likelihood of absolute identification for physiological proteins within complex in vivo-derived mixtures. To demonstrate the value of cIEF-MS in such analyses we have undertaken an examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and tentatively identified a number of constituent proteins. We have also analyzed whole blood from control and diabetic patients. We show that glycated alpha- and beta- chains of hemoglobin are found in almost equal abundance in diabetic patient blood. From these results we suggest cIEF-MS is an efficient and useful tool for the separation and examination of in vivo-derived analytes within physiological fluids.

Potential of on-line micro-LC immunochemical detection in the bioanalysis of cytokines

An on-line liquid chromatography-immunochemical detection (LC-ICD) system for the quantification of cytokines in cell extracts has been developed using a post-column continuous-flow reaction detection system using fluorescence labelled antibodies. Cytokines eluting from the micro-HPLC column react with antibodies to form fluorescent complexes. In a second step the excess of free antibody is trapped on a cytokine bound support prior to fluorescence detection. The concentration detection limit of the flow injection-ICD system was 50 pM (20 microl injection volume) for interleukin 4 (IL-4). An absolute detection limit of 1 fmol was obtained for IL-4. Similar to ICD systems for small non-protein analytes developed earlier, reaction times were in the order of 1 minute. The immobilised cytokine affinity columns can easily be regenerated and used for months. The present ICD system for interleukins 4, 6, 8 and 10 was coupled to ion exchange-, size exclusion- and reversed phase chromatography. Important parameters (reaction times, reaction conditions) were investigated to get a better understanding of post-column ICD systems for macromolecules.

Possibilities to improve automation, speed and precision of proteome analysis: a comparison of two-dimensional electrophoresis and alternatives

Proteome analysis requires fast methods with high separation efficiencies in order to screen the various cell and tissue types for their proteome expression and monitor the effect of environmental conditions and time on this expression. The established two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) is by far too slow for a consequential screening. Moreover, it is not precise enough to observe changes in protein concentrations. There are various approaches that promise faster, automated proteome analysis. This article concentrates on capillary (CT isoelectric focusing coupled to mass spectrometry (CIEF-MSn) and preparative IEF followed by size-exclusion chromatography, hyphenated with MS (PIEF-SEC-MS). These two approaches provide a similar separation pattern as the established 2-DE technique and therefore allow for the continued use of data based on this traditional approach. Their performances have been discussed and compared to 2-DE, evaluating 169 recent articles. Data on analysis time, automation, the detection limit, quantitation, peak capacity, mass and pI accuracy, as well as on the required sample amount are compared in a table.

Characterization of human alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes by capillary isoelectric focusing-mass spectrometry

The human liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes are currently believed to play a major role in ethanol metabolism, accounting for most of the ethanol oxidized in the liver. They have similar molecular masses and similar isoelectric point (pI) values (the 13 possible isoenzymes having pIs in the range of 8.26-8.87), making their characterization a significant analytical challenge. Capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) coupled on-line with electrospray ionization - Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometry was applied to separate and characterize mixtures of alphaalpha, beta1beta1 and beta3beta3 ADH isoenzymes. Seven different species were resolved by the separation in the pI 8.26-8.67 range. ESI-FTICR analysis of native ADHs revealed that each noncovalent ADH complex contains two monomeric protein units and four zinc atoms. The combination of CIEF separations with mass spectrometry appears well-suited for detailed characterization of ADH isozymes, and the attomole level sensitivity of FTICR should allow very small samples to be addressed.

Mass spectrometric detection for capillary isoelectric focusing separations of complex protein mixtures

Capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) can provide high-resolution separations of complex protein mixtures, but until recently it has primarily been used with conventional UV detection. This technique would be greatly enhanced by much more information-rich detection methods that can aid in protein characterization. We describe progress in the development of the combination of CIEF with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry and its application to proteome characterization. Studies have revealed 400-1000 putative proteins in the mass range of 2-100 kDa from total injections of approximately 300 ng protein in single CIEF-FTICR analyses of cell lysates for both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Deinococcus radiodurans (D. radiodurans). We also demonstrate the use of isotope labeling of the cell growth media to improve mass measurement accuracy and provide a means for quantitative proteome-wide measurements of protein expression. The ability to make such comprehensive and precise measurements of differences in protein expression in response to cellular perturbations should provide new insights into complex cellular processes.

Stepwise mobilization of focused proteins in capillary isoelectric focusing mass spectrometry

A stepwise mobilization strategy has been developed for the elution of complex protein mixtures, separated by capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) for detection using on-line electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Carrier polyampholytes are used to establish a pH gradient as well as to control the electroosmotic flow arising from the use of uncoated fused-silica capillaries. Elution of focused protein zones is achieved by controlling the mobilization pressure and voltage, leaving the remaining protein zones focused inside the capillary. Protein zones are stepwise eluted from the capillary by changing the mobilization conditions. Stepwise mobilization improves separation resolution and simplifies coupling with multistage MS (i.e., MSn) analysis since it allows more effective temporal control of protein elution from the CIEF capillary. We also describe a modified configuration for coupling CIEF with ESI-MS using a coaxial sheath flow interface that facilitate the automation of on-line CIEF-ESI-MS analyses. The stepwise mobilization strategy is demonstrated for the analysis of standard protein mixtures and soluble E. coli lysate proteins using CIEF-ESI-MS. These results indicate that inlet pressure or voltage programming to control the elution of the protein zones from the capillary (i.e., gradient mobilization) may allow for the optimization of the mobilization conditions and provide higher resolution for CIEF separation of complex mixtures with on-line MS.

High resolution analysis of protein phosphorylation using capillary isoelectric focusing - electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry

On-line capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF)-electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) as a two-dimensional separation system is employed for high resolution analysis of ovalbumin phosphorylation. On the basis of their differences in isoelectric point (pI), the mono- and diphosphoovalbumins are separated and resolved in CIEF. The focused protein zones of mono- and diphosphoovalbumins are eluted by combining gravity with cathodic mobilization. At the end of the CIEF capillary, the mobilized ovalbumin zones are analyzed by mass spectrometry coupled on-line to an electrospray interface with a coaxial sheath flow configuration. Additional ovalbumin variants within each of the mono- and diphosphoovalbumins, differing in their molecular masses due to glycosylation microheterogeneity, are easily distinguished by ESI-MS.

Pressure-assisted and pressure-programmed capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry for the analysis of peptide mixtures

Pressure assisting and pressure programming the inlet of the capillary electrophoresis instrument were used for the analysis of peptide mixtures and protein digests using capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (CE/ESI-MS). CE/ESI-MS of peptide mixtures and tryptic digests of proteins was studied using three different types of capillary columns: (i) a freshly aminopropylsilane (APS)-treated column, (ii) an untreated column, and (iii) a degraded APS-treated column. To maintain a constant and adequate buffer flow toward the CE capillary outlet for stable CE and ESI operation, low pressure was applied to the inlet of the CE when an untreated or degraded APS capillary was used. By programming the inlet pressure, CE/ESI-MS analysis time was reduced to 1/3 of its original time. The utility of this technique is demonstrated by CE/ESI-MS analysis of a hemoglobin variant (hemoglobin-S) and its tryptic digests. Identification of the mutant peptide in the tryptic digest of hemoglobin-S was achieved by collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the protein digests using CE/ESI time of flight-mass spectrometry (TOF-MS).

Capillary isoelectric focusing-electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for protein characterization

On-line combination of capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) with electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometry is demonstrated for high-resolution analysis of model proteins, human hemoglobin variants, and Escherichia coli proteins. The acquisition of high-resolution mass spectra of hemoglobin beta chains allows direct identification of hemoglobin variants A and C, differing in molecular mass by 1 Da. Direct mass determination of cellular proteins separated in the CIEF capillary is achieved using their isotopic envelopes obtained from ESI-FTICR. The factors which dictate overall performance of CIEF-ESI-FTICR, including duty cycle, mass resolution, scan rate, and sensitivity, are discussed in the context of protein variants and cell lysates analyzed in this study.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of hemoglobin variants by capillary isoelectric focusing

We developed two capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) assays, in narrow pH gradients, with the aim of routinely separating and quantitating normal and abnormal hemoglobins (Hbs): a one-step CIEF assay where residual electroosmotic flow mobilizes the proteins during focalization, and a two-step CIEF assay where focused Hbs are mobilized by low pressure by maintaining high-voltage. The resolution of 0.10 pH unit obtained with the one-step assay allowed the separation of the Hbs A, F, S and C; but Hb A2, which represents about 2-3% of whole Hb, could not be quantitated. The better resolution of 0.02 pH unit obtained with the two-step assay allowed the separation of some Hb variants of very close isoelectric points. The reproducibility of retention times was satisfactory (C.V.<5%). Moreover, in this configuration quantitation of Hb A2, Hb F and Hb S led to a standard deviation of less than 5%, allowing the diagnosis of thalassemias. The one-step assay could be useful only for the detection of abnormal variants, while the two-step assay could be applied to the routine analysis of Hbs, with quantitation of minor fractions and presumptive identification of variants.

Recent advances in capillary electrophoresis/electrospray/mass spectrometry

Successful on-line interfacing of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with electrospray (ES) mass spectrometry (MS) has progressed substantially in recent years. Of particular note also is the development which has occurred in combining the more advanced capillary-based electromigration separation techniques, such as capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF), capillary isotachophoresis (CIT), micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC), with ES/MS. The union of these electromigration schemes with MS detection provides a useful and sensitive analytical tool for the separation, quantitation and identification of biological, therapeutic, environmental and other important classes of chemical analytes. By making optimal use of the characteristics inherent with these separation mechanisms, greatly enhanced MS performance may be obtained. The following review summarizes the significant issues and challenges involved with CE/ES/MS analysis as well as results which have recently been obtained.

Chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for modified hemoglobins

The discovery of the clinically important glycohemoglobin adducts and their relation to diabetes mellitus have greatly stimulated the study of other minor post-translational modifications of hemoglobin. Chromatographic and electrophoretic procedures have played an important role in these studies. Today several hemoglobin adducts are known and the formation of adducts with glucose, phosphorylated carbohydrates, urea/cyanate, aspirin, vitamins, acetaldehyde, penicillin and acetyl CoA have been described. Furthermore, new adducts, such as those observed using hemoglobin as a biochemical marker monitoring environmental, occupational and lifestyle exposures to reactive toxic chemicals are constantly being reported. This review deals with chromatographic and electrophoretic separation methods available for the study of non-enzymatic post-translational modifications of hemoglobin. Suitability, perspectives and biomedical applications are discussed.