More sensitive and quantitative proteomic measurements using very low flow rate porous silica monolithic LC columns with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry.

The sensitivity of proteomics measurements using liquid chromatography (LC) separations interfaced with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) improves approximately inversely with liquid flow rate (for the columns having the same separation efficiency, linear velocity, and porosity), making attractive the use of smaller inner diameter LC columns. We report the development and initial application of 10 microm i.d.

Targeted biomarker detection via whole protein ion trap tandem mass spectrometry: thymosin beta4 in a human lung cancer cell line.

N-Terminally acetylated thymosin beta4, a species implicated for use as a cancer biomarker, was identified in a human lung cancer cell line using ion trap tandem mass spectrometry at the whole protein level. Ion-ion proton transfer reactions were used for parent ion concentration/manipulation and to simplify interpretation of product ion spectra. Dissociation data for the +6 to +3 charge states are reported.