title: Analysis of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by mass spectrometric approaches.
abstract: Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone is an important drug in reproductive medicine. Thorough analysis of the heterodimeric heavily glycosylated protein is a prerequisite for the evaluation of production batches as well as for the determination of "essential similarity" of new biosimilars. The concerted application of different liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods enabled the complete depiction of the primary structure of this pituitary hormone. Sequence coverage of 100% for the α- as well as the β-chain was achieved with tryptic peptides. Most of these peptides could be verified by tandem mass spectrometry. Site-specific analysis of all four glycosylation sites was, however, not possible with tryptic but with chymotryptic peptides. Quantification of the glycoforms of each glycopeptide was accomplished with the software MassMap®. Both protein subunits gave interpretable mass spectra upon S-alkylation and separation on a C5 reversed-phase column. Glycan isomer patterns were depicted by separation on porous graphitic carbon, using mass spectrometric detection for the evaluation of the glycopeptide liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization data. The currently marketed product Gonal-f™ and a potential biosimilar were compared with the help of these procedures.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria.
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Grass
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Pabst
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Chang
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Wozny
authors: Friedrich
authors: F
authors: Altmann
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone