Ning Yao

Facile synthesis of aminophenylboronic acid-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for selective separation of glycopeptides and glycoproteins

In this work, aminophenylboronic acid-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized, and applied to selective separation of glycopeptides and glycoproteins.

Enrichment of peptides in serum by C8-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis

Human serum contains a complex array of proteolytically derived peptides (serum peptidome), which contain biomarkers of preclinical screening and disease diagnosis. Recently, commercial C(8)-functionalized magnetic beads (1-10 microm) were widely applied to the separation and enrichment of peptides in human serum, prior to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis. In this work, laboratory-prepared C(8)-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (about 50 nm) were prepared and applied to the fast separation and the enrichment of peptides from serum. At first, the C(8)-magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by modifying amine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles with chlorodimethyloctylsilane. These synthesized C(8)-amine-functionalized magnetic particles have excellent magnetic responsibility, high dispersibility and large surface area. Finally, the C(8)-magnetic nanoparticles were successfully applied to fast and efficient enrichment of low-abundance peptides from protein tryptic digestion and human serum followed by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis.

Facile synthesis of C8-functionalized magnetic silica microspheres for enrichment of low-concentration peptides for direct MALDI-TOF MS analysis

In this study, novel C8‐functionalized magnetic polymer microspheres were prepared by coating single submicron‐sized magnetite particle with silica and subsequent modification with chloro (dimethyl) octylsilane. The resulting C8‐functionalized magnetic silica (C8‐f‐M‐S) microspheres exhibit well‐defined magnetite‐core‐silica‐shell structure and possess high content of magnetite, which endow them with high dispersibility and strong magnetic response. With their magnetic property, the synthesized C8‐f‐M‐S microspheres provide a convenient and efficient way for enrichment of low‐abundance peptides from tryptic protein digest and human serum. The enriched peptides/proteins were subjected for MALDI‐TOF MS analysis and the enrichment efficiency was documented. In a word, the facile synthesis and efficient enrichment process of the novel C8‐f‐M‐S microspheres make them promising candidates for isolation of peptides even in complex biological samples such as serum, plasma, and urine.

Recent developments and contributions from Chinese scientists in multidimensional separations for proteomics and traditional Chinese medicines.

Abstract The most basic task in proteomics remains the detection and identification of proteins from a biological sample, and the most traditional way to achieve this goal consists in protein separations performed by two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2‐D PAGE). Yet the 2‐D PAGE‐mass spectrometry (MS) approach has its drawbacks with regard to automation, sensitivity, and throughput. Consequently, considerable effort has been devoted to the development of non‐gel‐based proteome separation technologies in an effort to alleviate the shortcomings of 2‐D PAGE. In addition, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), due to their long period of clinical testing and reliable therapeutic efficacy, are attracting increased global attention. However, hundreds or even thousands of components are usually present in TCMs, which results in great difficulties of separation. As a mainstream separation tool, multidimensional liquid separation systems have shown powerful separation ability, high peak capacity, and excellent detectability in the analysis of complex samples including biological samples and TCMs, etc. Therefore, this review emphasizes the most recent advances in multidimensional liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis‐based separation techniques, and the corresponding applications in proteomics and TCMs. In view of the significant contributions from Chinese scientists, this review focuses mainly on the work of Chinese scientists in the above fields.