Detection of native proteins using solid-substrate electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with nonpolar solvents

Detection of native proteins using solid-substrate electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with nonpolar solvents

Detection of native proteins, particularly directly from raw biological samples, has been a challenging task for mass spectrometry. In this study, we demonstrated that solid-substrate electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with nonpolar solvents such as n-hexane could allow detection of native pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytica chimica acta 2018-04, Vol.1004, p.51-57
Main Authors: Hu, Bin, Yao, Zhong-Ping
Format: Article
Language:eng
Subjects:
Air temperature
Albumen
Biological properties
Biological samples
Bone marrow
Condensation
Electrospray ionization
Electrospraying
Ionization
Low temperature
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
n-Hexane
Native protein
Nonpolar solvent
Proteins
Solid substrate
Solvents
Spectroscopy
Studies
Substrates
Vaporization
Water
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Summary:Detection of native proteins, particularly directly from raw biological samples, has been a challenging task for mass spectrometry. In this study, we demonstrated that solid-substrate electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with nonpolar solvents such as n-hexane could allow detection of native proteins and protein complexes directly from raw biological samples. Mechanistic study revealed that the process involved rapid vaporization of the nonpolar solvent, temperature reduction of substrate surface, condensation of water from the ambient air, and spray ionization of the condensed water with analytes under the electric field. The fine spray with water at low temperature allowed the technique to detect native proteins, even directly from viscous samples (e.g., egg white) and solid samples (e.g., bone marrow). This study sheds new insight into the sampling and ionization process of mass spectrometry and provides a technique of great potential for characterization of proteins. [Display omitted] •Detection of native proteins using ESI-MS with nonpolar solvents (e.g., hexane).•Systematic investigation on mechanism of solid-substrate ESI-MS with nonpolar solvents.•Direct detection of native proteins and protein complexes from raw biological samples by MS.
ISSN:0003-2670
1873-4324