title: An introduction to mass spectrometry based proteomics-detection and characterization of gonadotropins and related molecules.
abstract: This review introduces fundamental aspects of mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics and illustrates how MS is an effective tool for the analysis of glycoprotein hormones. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and electrospray ionization (ESI) MS are complementary approaches that have been applied for the analysis of gonadotropins, e.g. to characterize differences in the oligosaccharide distribution of commercial human chorionic gonadotropin preparations, for isolated nicked beta-subunit, and identification of a metabolite of placental transforming growth factor in pharmaceutical hCG preparations. Immunoaffinity trapping and concentration of digested sample extract prior to MS analysis confers analytical sensitivity akin to immunoassay. A desirable objective would be to develop for clinical purposes a rapid procedure for MS detection and characterization of gonadotropins. Refinement of on-target immobilization and digestion for subsequent ionization by MALDI may eventually help to provide this capability. The advent of hybrid mass spectrometers will further advance the characterization of these complex molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science & Drug Monitoring (Drug Control Centre), Kings College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK. andrew.kicman@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kicman
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.forename: Ray K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Iles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins