Dataset Information

Ionisation bias undermines the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation for estimating peptide deamidation: Synthetic peptide studies demonstrate electrospray ionisation gives more reliable response ratios.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Although mass spectrometry (MS) is routinely used to determine deamination in peptide mixtures, the effects of the choice of ionisation source have not yet been investigated. In particular, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) has become a popular tool with which to measure levels of glutamine deamidation in ancient proteins. Here we use model synthetic peptides to rigorously compare MALDI and electrospray ionisation (ESI).

Methods

We used two synthetic peptides, with glutamine (Q) in one substituted for glutamic acid (E) in the other, to investigate the suitability of MALDI and ESI sources for the assessment of deamidation in peptides using MS. We also compared measurements of the same Q- and E-containing peptide mixtures using two different mass analysers (time-of-flight (TOF) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR)).

Results

When standard mixtures of the Q- and E-containing peptides were analysed using MALDI, under-representation of the E-containing peptide was observed. This observation was consistent between analyses carried out using either TOF or FT-ICR-MS. When the same mixtures were analysed using ESI FT-ICR-MS, no ionisation bias was observed.

Conclusions

MALDI may not be a suitable ionisation method for the determination of deamidation in peptide mixtures. However, ESI was successfully used to determine the ratio in known mixtures of Q- and E-containing peptides. These preliminary observations warrant further investigation into ionisation bias when measuring deamidation in other peptide sequences.

SUBMITTER: Simpson JP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6594239 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Ionisation bias undermines the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation for estimating peptide deamidation: Synthetic peptide studies demonstrate electrospray ionisation gives more reliable response ratios.

Simpson Joanna P JP Fascione Martin M Bergström Ed E Wilson Julie J Collins Matthew J MJ Penkman Kirsty E H KEH Thomas-Oates Jane J

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM 20190601 12

<h4>Rationale</h4>Although mass spectrometry (MS) is routinely used to determine deamination in peptide mixtures, the effects of the choice of ionisation source have not yet been investigated. In particular, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) has become a popular tool with which to measure levels of glutamine deamidation in ancient proteins. Here we use model synthetic peptides to rigorously compare MALDI and electrospray ionisation (ESI).<h4>Methods</h4>We used two synthetic pe ...[more]

PMID: 30908787

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Project description:There has been a recent surge in applications of mass spectrometry (MS) to tissue analysis, particularly lipid-based tissue imaging using ambient ionization techniques. This recent growth highlights the need to examine the effects of sample handling, storage conditions, and experimental protocols on the quality of the data obtained. Variables such as time before freezing after organ removal, storage time at -80 °C, time stored at room temperature, heating, and freeze/thaw cycles were investigated for their effect on the data quality obtained in desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)-MS using mouse brain. In addition, analytical variables such as tissue thickness, drying times, and instrumental conditions were also examined for their impact on DESI-MS data. While no immediate changes were noted in the DESI-MS lipid profiles of the mouse brain tissue after spending 1 h at room temperature when compared to being frozen immediately following removal, minor changes were noted between the tissue samples after 7 months of storage at -80 °C. In tissue sections stored at room temperature, degradation was noted in 24 h by the appearance of fatty acid dimers, which are indicative of high fatty acid concentrations, while in contrast, those sections stored at -80 °C for 7 months showed no significant degradation. Tissue sections were also subjected to up to six freeze/thaw cycles and showed increasing degradation following each cycle. In addition, tissue pieces were subjected to 50 °C temperatures and analyzed at specific time points. In as little as 2 h, degradation was observed in the form of increased fatty acid dimer formation, indicating that enzymatic processes forming free fatty acids were still active in the tissue. We have associated these dimers with high concentrations of free fatty acids present in the tissue during DESI-MS experiments. Analytical variables such as tissue thickness and time left to dry under nitrogen were also investigated, with no change in the resulting profiles at thickness from 10 to 25 μm and with optimal signal obtained after just 20 min in the dessicator. Experimental conditions such as source parameters, spray solvents, and sample surfaces are all shown to impact the quality of the data. Inter-section (relative standard deviation (%RSD), 0.44-7.2%) and intra-sample (%RSD, 4.0-8.0%) reproducibility data show the high quality information DESI-MS provides. Overall, the many variables investigated here showed DESI-MS to be a robust technique, with sample storage conditions having the most effect on the data obtained, and with unacceptable sample degradation occurring during room temperature storage.

Dataset Information

Ionisation bias undermines the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation for estimating peptide deamidation: Synthetic peptide studies demonstrate electrospray ionisation gives more reliable response ratios.

Rationale

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Ionisation bias undermines the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation for estimating peptide deamidation: Synthetic peptide studies demonstrate electrospray ionisation gives more reliable response ratios.

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