Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Research Tools
Research Tools
Increasing Peptide and Protein Identifications with Prioritized Mass Spectrometry
WARF: P110191US01

Inventors: Joshua Coon, Douglas Phanstiel, Graeme McAlister

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a probability-based method for tandem mass spectrometry that utilizes multiple ion properties to prioritize analysis and promote protein identifications.
Overview
As resources shift from genome sequencing to understanding and characterizing expressed genes and protein function, reliable and rapid tools for the analysis of protein composition are increasingly vital. Determining the unique, constituent amino acid structure of proteins is achieved by mass spectral instruments, which can ionize, separate and fragment tens of thousands of molecules in tandem scan events (MS/MS).

Identifying proteins and peptides from the resulting plot of mass-to-charge (m/z) intensity peaks, however, may compromise investigation. For complex mixtures not all peaks can be selected within an elution window, and many of the selections do not lead to successful identifications. Commonly, peaks are designated for consideration in order of decreasing intensity.

A more refined approach is needed, increasing protein and peptide identifications by interrogating the ions formed during the first MS analysis, called precursor ions, in order not of diminishing peak intensity, but prospect of success.
The Invention
UW–Madison researchers have developed a universally compatible, computationally based method in which multiple precursor ion attributes—such as mass, intensity, m/z ratio and charge state, as well as results obtained from previous scans—are used to calculate the likelihood of identification, thus prioritizing subsequent analysis.

The method comprises MS/MS analysis of a sample (or training sample) containing proteins and peptides, with one or more compounds optionally labeled with isobaric tags. Established procedure for analyte ionization and mass-to-charge separation generates precursor ions. The ions then are detected and analyzed for information related to two or more physical properties (mass, charge state, etc.) and directed for MS2 dissociation—selecting and/or allotting resources to the most identifiable ions as determined by the algorithm. Segregated and detected for mass and abundance, the fragmented ions provide further characteristic data used to identify the compounds. Additionally, the process permits novel, or first-time, identification of precursor ions during an experiment or within an ID database.

Enabling prioritized, probability-focused mass spectrometry, the innovative software achieves increased sample identification with little or no time increase and requiring no additional hardware.
Applications
  • Implementation on existing MS platforms as software update or bundle
  • Expanding proteomic databases
  • Developing sequence information pertinent to fundamental research, biologics and medicine
Key Benefits
  • Increased peptide and protein identifications
  • Compatible with all mass spectrometry instruments
  • Real-time analysis without added hardware
Stage of Development
When the algorithm was trained on the sample of interest, the researchers showed 14 and 25 percent increases in unique identifications for yeast lysate and human tryptic digest, respectively.
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
Publications
  • McAlister G.C., Phanstiel D.H., Wenger C.D., Lee M.V. and Coon J.J. 2010. Analysis of Tandem Mass Spectra by FTMS for Improved Large-Scale Proteomics with Superior Protein Quantification. Anal. Chem. 82, 316-322.
For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854

WARF