A Trapping-Micro-LC-FAIMS/dCV-MS Strategy for Ultrasensitive and Robust Targeted Quantification of Protein Drugs and Biomarkers.

The sensitivity of LC-MS in quantifying target proteins in plasma/tissues is significantly hindered by coeluted matrix interferences. While antibody-based immuno-enrichment effectively reduces interferences, developing and optimizing antibodies are often time-consuming and costly. Here, by leveraging the orthogonal separation capability of Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS), we developed a FAIMS/differential-compensation-voltage (FAIMS/dCV) method for antibody-free, robust, and ultrasensitive quantification of target proteins directly from plasma/tissue digests. By comparing the intensity-CV profiles of the target vs coeluted endogenous interferences, the FAIMS/dCV approach identifies the optimal CV for quantification of each target protein, thus maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). Compared to quantification without FAIMS, this technique dramatically reduces endogenous interferences, showing a median improvement of the S/N by 14.8-fold for the quantification of 17 representative protein drugs and biomarkers in plasma or tissues and a 5.2-fold median increase in S/N over conventional FAIMS approach, which uses the peak CV of each target. We also discovered that the established CV parameters remain consistent over months and are matrix-independent, affirming the robustness of the developed FAIMS/dCV method and the transferability of the method across matrices. The developed method was successfully demonstrated in three applications: the quantification of monoclonal antibodies with subng/mL LOQ in plasma, an investigation of the time courses of evolocumab and its target PCSK9 in a preclinical setting, and a clinical investigation of low abundance obesity-related biomarkers. This innovative and easy-to-use method has extensive potential in clinical and pharmaceutical research, particularly where sensitive and high-throughput quantification of protein drugs and biomarkers is required.

Evaluating kinase ATP uptake and tyrosine phosphorylation using multiplexed quantification of chemically labeled and post-translationally modified peptides.

Cancer biologists and other healthcare researchers face an increasing challenge in addressing the molecular complexity of disease. Biomarker measurement tools and techniques now contribute to both basic science and translational research. In particular, liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM) for multiplexed measurements of protein biomarkers has emerged as a versatile tool for systems biology. Assays can be developed for specific peptides that report on protein expression, mutation, or post-translational modification; discovery proteomics data rapidly translated into multiplexed quantitative approaches. Complementary advances in affinity purification enrich classes of enzymes or peptides representing post-translationally modified or chemically labeled substrates. Here, we illustrate the process for the relative quantification of hundreds of peptides in a single LC-MRM experiment. Desthiobiotinylated peptides produced by activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) using ATP probes and tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides are used as examples. These targeted quantification panels can be applied to further understand the biology of human disease.

Proteomic signatures of serum albumin-bound proteins from stroke patients with and without endovascular closure of PFO are significantly different and suggest a novel mechanism for cholesterol efflux.

BACKGROUND: The anatomy of PFO suggests that it can allow thrombi and potentially harmful circulatory factors to travel directly from the venous to the arterial circulation - altering circulatory phenotype. Our previous publication using high-resolution LC-MS/MS to profile protein and peptide expression patterns in plasma showed that albumin was relatively increased in donor samples from PFO-related than other types of ischemic strokes. Since albumin binds a host of molecules and acts as a carrier for lipoproteins, small molecules and drugs, we decided to investigate the albumin-bound proteins (in a similar sample cohort) in an effort to unravel biological changes and potentially discover biomarkers related to PFO-related stroke and PFO endovascular closure. METHODS: The method used in this study combined albumin immuno-enrichment with high resolution LC-MS in order to specifically capture and quantify the albumin-bound proteins. Subsequently, we measured cholesterol and HDL in a larger, separate cohort of PFO stroke patients, pre and post closure. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that a number of proteins were specifically associated with albumin in samples with and without endovascular closure of the PFO, and that the protein profiles were very different. Eight proteins, typically associated with HDL were common to both sample sets and quantitatively differently abundant. Pathway analysis of the MS results suggested that enhanced cholesterol efflux and reduced lipid oxidation were associated with PFO closure. Measurement of total cholesterol and HDL in a larger cohort of PFO closure samples using a colorimetric assay was consistent with the proteomic predictions. CONCLUSIONS: The collective data presented in this study demonstrate that analysis of albumin-bound proteins could provide a valuable tool for biomarker discovery on the effects of PFO endovascular closure. In addition, the results suggest that PFO endovascular closure can potentially have effects on HDL, cholesterol and albumin-bound ApoA-I abundance, therefore possibly providing benefits in cardioprotective functions.

An automated, high-throughput method for targeted quantification of intact insulin and its therapeutic analogs in human serum or plasma coupling mass spectrometric immunoassay with high resolution and accurate mass detection (MSIA-HR/AM).

The detection and quantification of insulin and its therapeutic analogs is important for medical, sports doping, and forensic applications. Synthetic variants contain slight sequence variations to affect bioavailability. To reduce sample handling bias, a universal extraction method is required for simultaneous extraction of endogenous and variant insulins with subsequent targeted quantification by LC-MS. A mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA), a multiplexed assay for intact insulin and its analogues that couples immunoenrichment with high resolution and accurate mass (HR/AM) spectrometric detection across the clinical range is presented in this report. The assay is sensitive, selective, semi-automated and can potentially be applied to detect new insulin isoforms allowing their further incorporation into second or third generation assays.

Hybrid data acquisition and processing strategies with increased throughput and selectivity: pSMART analysis for global qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and data-independent acquisition strategies (DIA) have both resulted in improved understanding of proteomics samples. Both strategies have advantages and disadvantages that are well-published, where DDA is typically applied for deep discovery and DIA may be used to create sample records. In this paper, we present a hybrid data acquisition and processing strategy (pSMART) that combines the strengths of both techniques and provides significant benefits for qualitative and quantitative peptide analysis. The performance of pSMART is compared to published DIA strategies in an experiment that allows the objective assessment of DIA performance with respect to interrogation of previously acquired MS data. The results of this experiment demonstrate that pSMART creates fewer decoy hits than a standard DIA strategy. Moreover, we show that pSMART is more selective, sensitive, and reproducible than either standard DIA or DDA strategies alone.

Increased selectivity, analytical precision, and throughput in targeted proteomics.

Proteomics is gradually complementing large shotgun qualitative studies with hypothesis-driven quantitative experiments. Targeted analyses performed on triple quadrupole instruments in selected reaction monitoring mode are characterized by a high degree of selectivity and low limit of detection; however, the concurrent analysis of multiple analytes occurs at the expense of sensitivity because of reduced dwell time and/or selectivity due to limitation to a few transitions. A new data acquisition paradigm is presented in which selected reaction monitoring is performed in two ways to simultaneously quantify and confirm the identity of the targeted peptides. A first set of primary transitions is continuously monitored during a predetermined elution time window to precisely quantify each peptide. In addition, a set of six to eight transitions is acquired in a data-dependent event, triggered when all the primary transitions exceed a preset threshold. These additional transitions are used to generate composite tandem mass spectra to formally confirm the identity of the targeted peptides. This technique was applied to analyze the tryptic digest of a yeast lysate to demonstrate the performance of the technique. We showed a limit of detection down to tens of attomoles injected and a throughput exceeding 6000 transitions in one 60-min experiment. The technique was integrated into a linear work flow, including experimental design, data acquisition, and data evaluation, enabling large scale proteomic studies.

Highly multiplexed targeted proteomics using precise control of peptide retention time.

Large-scale proteomics applications using SRM analysis on triple quadrupole mass spectrometers present new challenges to LC-MS/MS experimental design. Despite the automation of building large-scale LC-SRM methods, the increased numbers of targeted peptides can compromise the balance between sensitivity and selectivity. To facilitate large target numbers, time-scheduled SRM transition acquisition is performed. Previously published results have demonstrated incorporation of a well-characterized set of synthetic peptides enabled chromatographic characterization of the elution profile for most endogenous peptides. We have extended this application of peptide trainer kits to not only build SRM methods but to facilitate real-time elution profile characterization that enables automated adjustment of the scheduled detection windows. Incorporation of dynamic retention time adjustments better facilitate targeted assays lasting several days without the need for constant supervision. This paper provides an overview of how the dynamic retention correction approach identifies and corrects for commonly observed LC variations. This adjustment dramatically improves robustness in targeted discovery experiments as well as routine quantification experiments.

Mass spectrometric discovery and selective reaction monitoring (SRM) of putative protein biomarker candidates in first trimester Trisomy 21 maternal serum.

The accurate diagnosis of Trisomy 21 requires invasive procedures that carry a risk of miscarriage. The current state-of-the-art maternal serum screening tests measure levels of PAPP-A, free bhCG, AFP, and uE3 in various combinations with a maximum sensitivity of 60-75% and a false positive rate of 5%. There is currently an unmet need for noninvasive screening tests with high selectivity that can detect pregnancies at risk, preferably within the first trimester. The aim of this study was to apply proteomics and mass spectrometry techniques for the discovery of new putative biomarkers for Trisomy 21 in first trimester maternal serum coupled with the immediate development of quantitative selective reaction monitoring (SRM) assays. The results of the novel workflow were 2-fold: (1) we identified a list of differentially expressed proteins in Trisomy 21 vs Normal samples, including PAPP-A, and (2) we developed a multiplexed, high-throughput SRM assay for verification of 12 new putative markers identified in the discovery experiments. To narrow down the initial large list of differentially expressed candidates resulting from the discovery experiments, we incorporated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve algorithms early in the data analysis process. We believe this approach provides a substantial advantage in sifting through the large and complex data typically obtained from discovery experiments. The workflow efficiently mined information derived from high-resolution LC-MS/MS discovery data for the seamless construction of rapid, targeted assays that were performed on unfractionated serum digests. The SRM assay lower limit of detection (LLOD) for the target peptides in a background of digested serum matrix was approximately 250-500 attomoles on column and the limit of accurate quantitation (LOQ) was approximately 1-5 femtomoles on column. The assay error as determined by coefficient of variation at LOQ and above ranged from 0 to 16%. The workflow developed in this study bridges the gap between proteomic biomarker discovery and translation into a clinical research environment. Specifically, for Trisomy 21, the described multiplexed SRM assay provides a vehicle for high-throughput verification of these, and potentially other, peptide candidates on larger sample cohorts.

Epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation sites Ser991 and Tyr998 are implicated in the regulation of receptor endocytosis and phosphorylations at Ser1039 and Thr1041.

Aberrant expression, activation, and down-regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have causal roles in many human cancers, and post-translational modifications including phosphorylation and ubiquitination and protein-protein interactions directly modulate EGFR function. Quantitative mass spectrometric analyses including selected reaction monitoring (also known as multiple reaction monitoring) were applied to the EGFR and associated proteins. In response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of cells, phosphorylations at EGFR Ser(991) and Tyr(998) accumulated more slowly than at receptor sites involved in RAS-ERK signaling. Phosphorylation-deficient mutant receptors S991A and Y998F activated ERK in response to EGF but were impaired for receptor endocytosis. Consistent with these results, the mutant receptors retained a network of interactions with known signaling proteins including EGF-stimulated binding to the adaptor GRB2. Compared with wild type EGFR the Y998F variant had diminished EGF-stimulated interaction with the ubiquitin E3 ligase CBL, and the S991A variant had decreased associated ubiquitin. The endocytosis-defective mutant receptors were found to have elevated phosphorylation at positions Ser(1039) and Thr(1041). These residues reside in a serine/threonine-rich region of the receptor previously implicated in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent stress/cytokine-induced EGFR internalization and recycling (Zwang, Y., and Yarden, Y. (2006) p38 MAP kinase mediates stress-induced internalization of EGFR: implications for cancer chemotherapy. EMBO J. 25, 4195-4206). EGF-induced phosphorylations at Ser(1039) and Thr(1041) were blocked by treatment of cells with SB-202190, a selective inhibitor of p38. These results suggest that coordinated phosphorylation of EGFR involving sites Tyr(998), Ser(991), Ser(1039), and Thr(1041) governs the trafficking of EGF receptors. This reinforces the notion that EGFR function is manifest through spatially and temporally controlled protein-protein interactions and phosphorylations.

Reinspection of a Clinical Proteomics Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) Dataset with Cloud Computing Reveals Abundant Post-Translational Modifications and Protein Sequence Variants.

The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) has provided some of the most in-depth analyses of the phenotypes of human tumors ever constructed. Today, the majority of proteomic data analysis is still performed using software housed on desktop computers which limits the number of sequence variants and post-translational modifications that can be considered. The original CPTAC studies limited the search for PTMs to only samples that were chemically enriched for those modified peptides. Similarly, the only sequence variants considered were those with strong evidence at the exon or transcript level. In this multi-institutional collaborative reanalysis, we utilized unbiased protein databases containing millions of human sequence variants in conjunction with hundreds of common post-translational modifications. Using these tools, we identified tens of thousands of high-confidence PTMs and sequence variants. We identified 4132 phosphorylated peptides in nonenriched samples, 93% of which were confirmed in the samples which were chemically enriched for phosphopeptides. In addition, our results also cover 90% of the high-confidence variants reported by the original proteogenomics study, without the need for sample specific next-generation sequencing. Finally, we report fivefold more somatic and germline variants that have an independent evidence at the peptide level, including mutations in ERRB2 and BCAS1. In this reanalysis of CPTAC proteomic data with cloud computing, we present an openly available and searchable web resource of the highest-coverage proteomic profiling of human tumors described to date.

Measurement of protein phosphorylation stoichiometry by selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry.

The stoichiometry of protein phosphorylation at specific amino acid sites may be used to infer on the significance of the modification, and its biological function in the cell. However, detection and quantification of phosphorylation stoichiometry in tissue remain a significant challenge. Here we describe a strategy for highly sensitive, label-free quantification of protein phosphorylation stoichiometry. Method development included the analysis of synthetic peptides in order to determine constants to relate the mass spectrometry signals of cognate peptide/phosphopeptide pairs, and the detection of the cognate peptides by using high resolution Fourier Transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) and selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM). By analyzing extracted ion currents by FTMS, the phosphorylation stoichiometries of two tyrosine residues (tyrosine-194 and tyrosine-397) in the protein tyrosine kinase Lyn were determined in transfected human HEK293T cells and two cultured human multiple myeloma strains. To achieve high sensitivity to measure phosphorylation stoichiometry in tissue, SRM methods were developed and applied for the analysis of phosphorylation stoichiometries of Lyn phospho-sites in multiple myeloma xenograft tumors. Western immuno-blotting was used to verify mass spectrometry findings. The SRM method has potential applications in analyzing clinical samples wherein protein phosphorylation stoichiometries may represent important pharmacodynamic biomarkers.

An integrated method for metabolite detection and identification using a linear ion trap/Orbitrap mass spectrometer and multiple data processing techniques: application to indinavir metabolite detection.

A new strategy using a hybrid linear ion trap/Orbitrap mass spectrometer and multiple post-acquisition data mining techniques was evaluated and applied to the detection and characterization of in vitro metabolites of indinavir. Accurate-mass, full-scan MS and MS/MS data sets were acquired with a generic data-dependent method and processed with extracted-ion chromatography (EIC), mass-defect filter (MDF), product-ion filter (PIF), and neutral-loss filter (NLF) techniques. The high-resolution EIC process was shown to be highly effective in the detection of common metabolites with predicted molecular weights. The MDF process, which searched for metabolites based on the similarity of mass defects of metabolites to those of indinavir and its core substructures, was able to find uncommon metabolites not detected by the EIC processing. The high-resolution PIF and NLF processes selectively detected metabolites that underwent fragmentation pathways similar to those of indinavir or its known metabolites. As a result, a total of 15 metabolites including two new indinavir metabolites were detected and characterized in a rat liver S9 incubation sample. Overall, these data mining techniques, which employed distinct metabolite search mechanisms, were complementary and effective in detecting both common and uncommon metabolites. In summary, the results demonstrated that this analytical strategy enables the high-throughput acquisition of accurate-mass LC/MS data sets, comprehensive search of a variety of metabolites through the post-acquisition processes, and effective structural characterization based on elemental compositions of metabolite molecules and their product ions.

Unimolecular dissociation reactions of methyl benzoate radical cation.

The blackbody infrared radiation induced dissociation of methyl benzoate (C8H8O2(+*)) radical cation was investigated by using a Fourier transfer ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer equipped with a resistively heated (wire temperatures of 400-1070 K) wire ion guide. We observed product ion branching ratios that are strongly dependent upon wire temperature. At low temperatures (670-890 K) the major product ion C7H8 (+*) (m/z 92), which is formed by loss of CO2, and at higher temperatures (above 900 K), loss of methoxy radical ((*)OCH3) competes with loss of CO2. The energies of the various reactant ions and transition states for product ion formation were estimated by using density functional theory molecular orbital calculations, and a proposed mechanism for the dissociation chemistry of C8H8O2 (+*) involving a multistep rearrangement reaction is tested using the Master Equation formalism.

Top-down mass spectrometric immunoassay for human insulin and its therapeutic analogs.

Measurement of insulin and its therapeutic analogs is important in diabetes, hypoglycemia, sports anti-doping and toxicology. Commercial insulin immunoassays fail to detect commonly prescribed insulin analogs. Because of their unique sequences and masses, these analogs are readily measured and distinguished with mass spectrometric (MS) assays. Reviewed here is an insulin mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) that combines micro-scale immunoaffinity capture with sensitive MS detection of insulin and its therapeutic analogs. An antibody reactive to all insulin analogs was used to affinity capture the insulin analogs. Following elution, insulins were detected with MALDI-TOF MS or LC-MS analysis. Isotopic resolution for insulin was achieved for both MS techniques, and several insulin analogs were detected at unique m/z signals. Porcine insulin, spiked in all samples, served as an internal reference standard for quantification. Linear standard curves spanning three orders of magnitude were obtained, with limits of detection of 15pM for the MALDI-TOF MS and 1.5pM for the LC-MS. This insulin assay was capable of detecting and quantifying not only human endogenous insulin, but also most of the therapeutic insulin analogs, which could find use in diagnosis of severe hypoglycemia and in sports anti-doping. SIGNIFICANCE: Insulin replacement therapy consists of injection of long- or fast-acting insulin analogs with slightly modified primary sequences compared to human insulin. Assays that are capable of detecting all insulin analogs are desired, not only for medical management of diabetes and severe hypoglycemia but also for sports anti-doping and toxicology.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of the Hippocampus of Rats with GCR-Induced Spatial Memory Impairment.

NASA is planning future missions to Mars, which will result in astronauts being exposed to ∼13 cGy/year of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR). Previous ground-based experiments have demonstrated that low (15 cGy) doses of 1 GeV/n 56Fe ions impair hippocampus-dependent spatial memory in rats. However, some irradiated rats maintain a spatial memory performance comparable to that seen in the sham-irradiated rats, suggesting that some of these animals are able to ameliorate the deleterious effects of the GCR, while others are not. This rat model provides a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of how GCR affects neurophysiology, what adaptive responses can be invoked to prevent the emergence of GCR-induced spatial memory impairment, as well as the pathways that are altered when spatial memory impairment occurs. A label-free, unbiased proteomic profiling approach involving quantitative protein/peptide profiling followed by Cytoscape analysis has established the composition of the hippocampal proteome in male Wistar rats after exposure to 15 cGy of 1 GeV/n 56Fe, and identified proteins whose expression is altered with respect to: 1. radiation exposure and 2. impaired spatial memory performance. We identified 30 proteins that were classified as "GCR exposure marker" (GEM) proteins (expressed solely or at higher levels in the irradiated rats but not related to spatial memory performance), most notably CD98, Cadps and GMFB. Conversely, there were 252 proteins that were detected only in the sham-irradiated samples, i.e., they were not detected in either of the irradiated cohorts; of these 10% have well-documented roles in neurotransmission. The second aspect of our data mining was to identify proteins whose expression was associated with either impaired or functional spatial memory. While there are multiple changes in the hippocampal proteome in the irradiated rats that have impaired spatial memory performance, with 203 proteins being detected (or upregulated) only in these rats, it would appear that spatial memory impairment may also arise from an inability of these rats to express "good spatial memory" (GSM) proteins, many of which play an important role in neuronal homeostasis and function, axonogenesis, presynaptic membrane organization and G-protein coupled receptor (GCPR) signaling. It may be possible to use this knowledge to develop two alternative countermeasure strategies, one that preserves critical pathways prophylactically and one that invokes restorative pathways after GCR exposure.

A novel approach for identification and characterization of glycoproteins using a hybrid linear ion trap/FT-ICR mass spectrometer.

Combining source collision-induced dissociation (CID) and tandem mass spectral acquisition in a pseudo-MS(3) experiment using a linear ion trap results in a highly selective and sensitive approach to identifying glycopeptide elution from a protein digest. The increased sensitivity is partially attributed to the nonselective nature of source CID, which allows simultaneous activation of all charge states and coeluting glycoforms generating greater ion abundance for the mass-to-charge (m/z) 204 and/or 366 oxonium ions. Unlike source CID alone, a pseudo-MS(3) approach adds selectivity while improving sensitivity by eliminating chemical noise during the tandem mass spectral acquisition of the oxonium ions in the linear ion trap. Performing the experiments in the hybrid linear ion trap/Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) enables subsequent high-resolution/high-mass accuracy full-scan mass spectra (MS) and parallel acquisition of MS/MS in the linear ion trap to be completed in 2 s directly following the pseudo-MS(3) scan to collate identification and characterization of glycopeptides in one experimental scan cycle. Analysis of bovine fetuin digest using the combined pseudo-MS(3), high-resolution MS, and data-dependent MS/MS events resulted in identification of four N-linked and two O-linked glycopeptides without enzymatic cleavage of the sugar moiety or release of the sialic acids before analysis. In addition, over 95% of the total protein sequence was identified in one analytical run.

Collision-induced dissociation pathways of anabolic steroids by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Anabolic steroids are structurally similar compounds, and their product-ion spectra obtained by tandem mass spectrometry under electrospray ionization conditions are quite difficult to interpret because of poly-ring structures and lack of a charge-retaining center in their chemical structures. In the present study, the fragmentation of nine anabolic steroids of interest to the racing industry was investigated by using triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer, and a linear ion trap instrument. With the aid of an expert system software (Mass Frontier version 3.0), accurate mass measurements, and multiple stage tandem mass spectrometric (MS(n)) experiments, fragmentation pathways were elucidated for boldenone, methandrostenolone, tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), trenbolone, normethandrolone and mibolerone. Small differences in the chemical structures of the steroids, such as an additional double-bond or a methyl group, result in significantly different fragmentation pathways. The fragmentation pathways proposed in this paper allow interpretation of major product ions of other anabolic steroids reported by other researchers in a recent publication. The proposed fragmentation pathways are helpful for characterization of new steroids. The approach used in this study for elucidation of the fragmentation pathways is helpful in interpretation of complicated product-ion spectra of other compounds, drugs and their metabolites.

Application of a linear ion trap/orbitrap mass spectrometer in metabolite characterization studies: examination of the human liver microsomal metabolism of the non-tricyclic anti-depressant nefazodone using data-dependent accurate mass measurements.

We report herein, facile metabolite identification workflow on the anti-depressant nefazodone, which is derived from accurate mass measurements based on a single run/experimental analysis. A hybrid LTQ/orbitrap mass spectrometer was used to obtain accurate mass full scan MS and MS/MS in a data-dependent fashion to eliminate the reliance on a parent mass list. Initial screening utilized a high mass tolerance ( approximately 10 ppm) to filter the full scan MS data for previously reported nefazodone metabolites. The tight mass tolerance reduces or eliminates background chemical noise, dramatically increasing sensitivity for confirming or eliminating the presence of metabolites as well as isobaric forms. The full scan accurate mass analysis of suspected metabolites can be confirmed or refuted using three primary tools: (1) predictive chemical formula and corresponding mass error analysis, (2) rings-plus-double bonds, and (3) accurate mass product ion spectra of parent and suspected metabolites. Accurate mass characterization of the parent ion structure provided the basis for assessing structural assignment for metabolites. Metabolites were also characterized using parent product ion m/z values to filter all tandem mass spectra for identification of precursor ions yielding similar product ions. Identified metabolite parent masses were subjected to chemical formula calculator based on accurate mass as well as bond saturation. Further analysis of potential nefazodone metabolites was executed using accurate mass product ion spectra. Reported mass measurement errors for all full scan MS and MS/MS spectra was <3 ppm, regardless of relative ion abundance, which enabled the use of predictive software in determining product ion structure. The ability to conduct biotransformation profiling via tandem mass spectrometry coupled with accurate mass measurements, all in a single experimental run, is clearly one of the most attractive features of this methodology.

The use of a hybrid linear trap/FT-ICR mass spectrometer for on-line high resolution/high mass accuracy bottom-up sequencing.

In this work we present a hybrid linear trap/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectrometer to perform protein sequencing using the bottom-up approach. We demonstrate that incorporation of the linear trap greatly enhances the overall performance of the hybrid system for the study of complex peptide mixtures separated by fast high-performance liquid chromatography gradients. The ability to detect in the linear trap enables employment of automatic gain control to greatly reduce space charging in the ICR cell irregardless of ion flux. Resulting accurate mass measurements of 2 ppm or better using external calibration are achieved for the base peak as well as ions at 2% relative abundance. The linear trap is used to perform ion accumulation and activation prior to detection in the ICR cell which increases the scan rate. The increased duty cycle allows for data-dependent mass analysis of coeluting peptides to be acquired increasing protein sequence coverage without increasing the gradient length. In addition, the linear trap could be used as an ion detection device to perform simultaneous detection of tandem mass spectra with full scan mass spectral detection in the ICR cell resulting in the fastest scan cycles for performing bottom-up sequencing of protein digests. Comparisons of protein sequence coverage are presented for product ion detection in the linear trap and ICR cell.