title: The complexity of protein semiochemistry in mammals.
abstract: The high degree of protein sequence similarity in the MUPs (major urinary proteins) poses considerable challenges for their individual differentiation, analysis and quantification. In the present review, we discuss MS approaches for MUP quantification, at either the protein or the peptide level. In particular, we describe an approach to multiplexed quantification based on the design and synthesis of novel proteins (QconCATs) that are concatamers of quantification standards, providing a simple route to the generation of a set of stable-isotope-labelled peptide standards. The MUPs pose a particular challenge to QconCAT design, because of their sequence similarity and the limited number of peptides that can be used to construct the standards. Such difficulties can be overcome by careful attention to the analytical workflow.
authors.affiliation: *Protein Function Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beynon
authors.affiliation: *Protein Function Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K.
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: *Protein Function Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gómez-Baena
authors.affiliation: *Protein Function Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: *Protein Function Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: *Protein Function Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unsworth
authors.affiliation: †Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, U.K.
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hurst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; C035737:major urinary proteins