title: Improvements for the visualization of low-molecular weight protein and peptides of human tears using MALDI.
abstract: Many low-molecular weight proteins and peptides in human tears are potentially bioactive proteins but the range and number of these is yet to be fully characterized. A number of different sample preparation techniques were used to maximize the visualization of peptides from reflex tears. Samples were pretreated using precipitation and filtration techniques prior to analyses using MALDI-TOF MS. Peptides were searched for between 700 to 4000 m/z. Sample dilution in several different buffer systems followed by filtration with a 30-kDa cutoff filter and C18 reverse phase microcolumn purification produced significantly (p = 0.049) more peaks in tears than other methods used to prepare tears prior to MALDI-TOF MS. This study has established a technique for optimizing the visualization of naturally occurring peptides in tears.
authors.affiliation: Minomic Pty Ltd, Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen-Khuong
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Zhejun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willcox
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins