Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1999. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 1999; 5(3): 235-240
Published online Jun 15, 1999. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i3.235
Study on the quality of recombinant proteins using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry
Guo-Hua Zhou, Guo-An Luo, Guo-Qing Sun, Ya-Cheng Cao, Mimg-Sheng Zhu
Guo-Hua Zhou, Guo-An Luo, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 Beijing, China
Guo-Qing Sun, Ya-Cheng Cao, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210018, Jiangsu Province, China
Mimg-Sheng Zhu, Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics, No. 293 Zhongshan East Road, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China.
Guo-Hua Zhou, male, born on 1964-12-03 in Nantong County, Jiangsu Province, Han nationality, graduated from Tsinghua University as a Ph.D graduate in 1998, associate professor of Pharmacy, majoringin drug analysis, having 30 papers published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 692350220.
Correspondence to: Prof. LUO Guo-An, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 Beijing, China. galuo@sam.chem.tsinghua.edu.cn or GHZHOU@publicl.ptt. js.cn
Telephone: +86-10-62784764 or +86-25-4540665 Fax: +86-10-62784764 or +86-25-4541183
Received: January 4, 1999
Revised: February 12, 1999
Accepted: February 23, 1999
Published online: June 15, 1999
Abstract

AIM: To study the possibility of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for controlling the quality of recombinant proteins.

METHODS: By using MALDI-TOF MS, the molecular weights and purity of recombinant bioactive proteins were analyzed.

RESULTS: The molecular weights and purity were obtained in nine recombinant bioactive proteins, including interleukin 2, tumor necrosis factor α, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, interferon α2b, interferon α1, erythropoietin, calmodulin and its fragment, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase were obtained. MALDI-TOF MS was also used to assay specific proteins in the mixtures and to characterize the erythropoietin tryptic digests.

CONLUSION: The results showed that MALDI-TOF MS can be employed for the effective quality control of recombinant proteins.

Keywords: recombinant proteins, molecular weight, flight mass spectrometry, erythropoietin tryptic digests