Asish B. Chakraborty

Strategy for qualitative and quantitative analysis in proteomics based on signature peptides

This paper describes a new analytical strategy for identifying proteins in concentration flux based on isotopic labeling peptides in tryptic digests. Primary amino groups in peptides from control and experimental samples were derivatized with acetate and trideuteroacetate, respectively. After mixing samples thus labeled from these two sources, the relative concentration of peptides was determined by isotope ratio analysis with MALDI and ESI mass spectrometry. More than a 100-fold difference in relative concentration could be detected. Simplification of complex tryptic digests prior to mass spectral analysis was achieved by selection of histidine-containing peptides with immobilized metal affinity sorbents or of glycopeptides by lectin columns. Because most of these peptides have sequences that are unique to a single protein, they are a signature of the protein from which they were derived; providing a facile route to protein analysis.

Global internal standard technology for comparative proteomics.

The work described in this paper tests the efficacy of a global isotope labeling (global internal standard technology, GIST) strategy for quantification in proteomics. Using GIST, overexpression of beta-galactosidase in Escherichia coli was identified and quantified. The GIST protocol involved tryptic digestion of proteins from control and experimental samples followed by differential isotopic labeling of the resulting tryptic peptides, mixing the differentially labeled control and experimental digests, fractionation of the peptide mixture by reversed-phase chromatography, and isotope ratio analysis by mass spectrometry. N-Acetoxysuccinimide and N-acetoxy-[2H3]succinimide were used to differentially derivatize primary amino groups in peptides from experimental and control samples, respectively. The relative concentration of isotopically labeled peptides was determined by isotope ratio analysis with both matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS). Peptide masses and sequences obtained by MS-MS were used to identify proteins. MS-MS was found to be uniquely suited for isobaric peptide quantification.

Rapid comparison of a candidate biosimilar to an innovator monoclonal antibody with advanced liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry technologies

This study shows that state-of-the-art liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) can be used for rapid verification of identity and characterization of sequence variants and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) for antibody products. A candidate biosimilar IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was compared in detail to a commercially available innovator product. Intact protein mass, primary sequence, PTMs, and the micro-differences between the two mAbs were identified and quantified simultaneously. Although very similar in terms of sequences and modifications, a mass difference observed by LC-MS intact mass measurements indicated that they were not identical. Peptide mapping, performed with data independent acquisition LC-MS using an alternating low and elevated collision energy scan mode (LC-MSE), located the mass difference between the biosimilar and the innovator to a two amino acid residue variance in the heavy chain sequences. The peptide mapping technique was also used to comprehensively catalogue and compare the differences in PTMs of the biosimilar and innovator mAbs. Comprehensive glycosylation profiling confirmed that the proportion of individual glycans was different between the biosimilar and the innovator, although the number and identity of glycans were the same. These results demonstrate that the combination of accurate intact mass measurement, released glycan profiling, and LC-MSE peptide mapping provides a set of routine tools that can be used to comprehensively compare a candidate biosimilar and an innovator mAb.

Electrospray ionization quadrupole ion-mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry as a tool to distinguish the lot-to-lot heterogeneity in N-glycosylation profile of the therapeutic monoclonal antibody trastuzumab.

Monoclonal antibodies are typically glycosylated at asparagine residues in the Fc domain, and glycosylation heterogeneity at the Fc sites is well known. This paper presents a method for rapid analysis of glycosylation profile of the therapeutic monoclonal antibody trastuzumab from different production batches using electrospray quadrupole ion-mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-IM-TOF). The global glycosylation profile for each production batch was obtained by a fast LC-MS analysis, and comparisons of the glycoprofiles of trastuzumab from different lots were made based on the deconvoluted intact mass spectra. Furthermore, the heterogeneity at each glycosylation site was characterized at the reduced antibody level and at the isolated glycopeptide level. The glycosylation site and glycan structures were confirmed by performing a time-aligned-parallel fragmentation approach using the unique dual-collision cell design of the instrument and the incorporated ion-mobility separation function. Four different production batches of trastuzumab were analyzed and compared in terms of global glycosylation profiles as well as the heterogeneity at each glycosylation site. The results show that each batch of trastuzumab shares the same types of glycoforms but relative abundance of each glycoforms is varied.

Multidimensional chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry as an alternative to two-dimensional gels for the identification and analysis of complex mixtures of intact proteins.

The limitations of 2-D gels for global proteomics have encouraged the development of alternative approaches for identifying proteins in complicated mixtures, and determining their modification state. In this work, we describe the application of multidimensional liquid chromatography (SCX-RPLC) coupled with electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry and off-line fraction collection to analyze complex intact protein mixtures. Methods were developed using both standard proteins and an enriched yeast ribosomal fraction sample containing approximately 100 proteins, which permitted assessment of the effectiveness of the individual separation dimensions, as well as investigation of the interplay between separation capacity and electrospray MS performance.

Comparison of 1-D and 2-D LC MS/MS methods for proteomic analysis of human serum

1‐D and 2‐D LC methods were utilized for proteome analysis of undepleted human serum. Separation of peptides in 2‐D LC was performed either with strong cation exchange (SCX)‐RP chromatography or with an RP–RP 2‐D LC approach. Peptides were identified by MS/MS using a data‐independent acquisition approach. A peptide retention prediction model was used to highlight the potential false‐positive peptide identifications. When applying selected data filtration, we identified 52 proteins based on 316 peptides in serum in 1‐D LC setup. One hundred and eighty‐four proteins/1036 peptides and 142 proteins/905 peptides were identified in RP–RP and SCX‐RP 2‐D LC, respectively. The performance of both 2‐D LC methods for proteomic analysis is critically compared.

Simplification of complex tryptic digests for capillary electrophoresis by affinity selection of histidine-containing peptides with immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography.

This paper reports on the selectivity behaviour of tryptic peptides on a Cu(2+)-loaded immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) support. Ovalbumin was chosen as a model protein for investigation of the selection and separation of histidine-containing peptides by IMAC off-line coupled with capillary electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Two of five histidine-containing peptides in addition to some non-histidine-containing peptides from a tryptic digest of ovalbumin were captured by IMAC. To separate and purify the selected peptides, the IMAC sample was analysed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The sample was not separated by capillary zone electrophoresis, therefore, micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) using 10-75 mM SDS was used. Analysis of IMAC sample by MEKC, using low concentrations of SDS (10 mM) was characterised by MALDI-TOF. When using SDS at 75 mM, the migration times of reversed-phase fractions of the IMAC sample, were used to identify the peaks. One of the two selected histidine-containing peptides with two histidine residues was identified, analysing the sample by CZE or MEKC.

Applications of Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry for Characterization of Protein Therapeutics

A major proportion of protein therapeutics marketed to date are produced by recombinant DNA technologies using well-chosen protein expression systems. Compared with small-molecule pharmaceuticals, recombinant therapeutic proteins are generally complex, heterogeneous, and subject to a variety of enzymatic or chemical modifications during expression, purification, and long-term storage. Because of unique structural features and production processes, the analytical strategies for characterization, quantitation, impurity profiling, and bioactivity evaluation of recombinant proteins represent a great challenge and a matter for debate.