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De novo sequencing of novel neuropeptides directly from Ascaris suum tissue using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight/time‐of‐flight
Author(s) -
Yew Joanne Y.,
Dikler Sergei,
Stretton Antony O.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.1240
Subject(s) - ascaris suum , chemistry , matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization , peptide , ionization , mass spectrometry , desorption , neuropeptide , laser , derivatization , chromatography , matrix (chemical analysis) , matrix assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization , biophysics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , ion , physics , receptor , adsorption , optics , helminths , zoology
Direct analysis of tissue by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) allows for the rapid profiling of biological molecules with minimal loss of sample or degradation and reduced likelihood of chemical modification. However, there are still considerable challenges to overcome due to the complexity of tissue and the low quantity of endogenous peptide in a single cell. These problems are exacerbated in the nematode Ascaris suum because of the small size of individual neurons and the paucity of peptide per cell. In an effort to address these difficulties, the recently developed matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight/time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF/TOF) technology was used in combination with an on‐target derivatization in order to sequence novel neuropeptides directly from Ascaris nervous tissue. Direct MALDI‐TOF/TOF analysis of Ascaris tissue provided the complete amino acid sequences for a previously characterized neuropeptide as well as for three novel peptides with homologues found in other nematodes. These results demonstrate a method for the rapid characterization of sub‐femtomolar amounts of peptide directly from tissue using MALDI‐TOF/TOF. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.