Purification and identification of candidate biomarkers discovered using SELDI-TOF MS

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:818:49-66. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-418-6_4.

Abstract

Purification and identification of candidate biomarkers is a critical step in the biomarker development process, since it provides insight into the disease biology and facilitates the development of analyte-specific assays. Top-down biomarker discovery workflows like SELDI-TOF MS yield candidate markers that are identified based on native mass. Positive identification of these candidate biomarkers requires further enrichment and/or purification. While purification methods must be optimized for each protein target, there are two general workflows. Native peptides under approximately 4 kDa can be subjected to direct sequence analysis using a tandem mass spectrometer whereas proteins over approximately 4 kDa usually require proteolytic digestion prior to MS/MS analysis. In both cases, partial purification is usually necessary to enrich the candidate biomarker relative to other proteins in a complex biological mixture. This chapter provides detailed protocols for protein purification (including anion exchange, metal affinity, and reverse phase chromatography as well as SDS-PAGE) and identification (including protein processing, digestion, and database searching).

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatography / methods*
  • Data Mining
  • Databases, Protein
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Molecular Weight
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / isolation & purification
  • Proteolysis
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Peptide Fragments