Optimized time alignment algorithm for LC-MS data: correlation optimized warping using component detection algorithm-selected mass chromatograms.
Correlation optimized warping (COW) based on the total ion current (TIC) is a widely used time alignment algorithm (COW-TIC). This approach works successfully on chromatograms containing few compounds and having a well-defined TIC. In this paper, we have combined COW with a component detection algorithm (CODA) to align LC-MS chromatograms containing thousands of biological compounds with overlapping chromatographic peaks, a situation where COW-TIC often fails. CODA is a variable selection procedure that selects mass chromatograms with low noise and low background (so-called "high-quality" mass chromatograms). High-quality mass chromatograms selected in each COW segment ensure that the same compounds (based on their mass and their retention time) are used in the two-dimensional benefit function of COW to obtain correct and optimal alignments (COW-CODA). The performance of the COW-CODA algorithm was evaluated on three types of complex data sets obtained from the LC-MS analysis of samples commonly used for biomarker discovery and compared to COW-TIC using a new global comparison method based on overlapping peak area: trypsin-digested serum obtained from cervical cancer patients, trypsin-digested serum from a single patient that was treated with varying preanalytical parameters (factorial design study), and urine from pregnant and nonpregnant women. While COW-CODA did result in minor misalignments in rare cases, it was clearly superior to the COW-TIC algorithm, especially when applied to highly variable chromatograms (factorial design, urine). The presented algorithm thus enables automatic time alignment and accurate peak matching of multiple LC-MS data sets obtained from complex body fluids that are often used for biomarker discovery.
Christin
Christin
C
Analytical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
Smilde
Age K
AK
Hoefsloot
Huub C J
HC
Suits
Frank
F
Bischoff
Rainer
R
Horvatovich
Peter L
PL
D000465:Algorithms; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood
D014357:Trypsin