Preservation and detection of specific antibody--peptide complexes by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry.
The direct detection of an antibody-peptide complex is reported by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Experimental conditions have been found in which specific, noncovalent interactions in solution are maintained throughout the sample preparation and ionization process. Mass measurements based on the ion signals for the intact antibody and 1:1 antibody-peptide complex reveal that specific noncovalent associations between a monoclonal antibody and a peptide, which comprises the determinant of the corresponding antigen, are maintained in the gas phase. These results support the wider application of MALDI-MS to studies of the structure and specificity of macromolecular complexes important to immune and other biological function.
Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461-1602, USA.
J G
JG
Kiselar
K M
KM
Downard
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000737:chemistry; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010455:Peptides; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone