Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

1618-2650408272016NovAnalytical and bioanalytical chemistryAnal Bioanal ChemMRM³-based LC-MS multi-method for the detection and quantification of nut allergens.784578557845-7855Food allergies have become a global challenge to food safety in industrialized countries in recent years. With governmental monitoring and legislation moving towards the establishment of threshold allergen doses, there is a need for sensitive and quantitative analytical methods for the determination of allergenic food contaminants. Targeted proteomics employing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has emerged as a promising technique that offers increased specificity and reproducibility compared to antibody and DNA-based technologies. As the detection of trace levels of allergenic food contaminants also demands excellent sensitivity, we aimed to significantly increase the analytical performance of LC-MS by utilizing multiple reaction monitoring cubed (MRM³) technology. Following a bottom-up proteomics approach, including a straightforward sample preparation process, 38 MRM³ experiments specific to 18 proteotypic peptides were developed and optimized. This permitted the highly specific identification of peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, pistachio, and walnut. The analytical performance of the method was assessed for three relevant food matrices with different chemical compositions. Limits of detection were around 1 μg/g or below in fortified matrix samples, not accounting for the effects of food processing. Compared to an MRM-based approach, the MRM³-based method showed an increase in sensitivity of up to 30-fold. Regression analysis demonstrated high linearity of the MRM³ signal in spiked matrix samples together with robust intersample reproducibility, confirming that the method is highly applicable for quantitative purposes. To the best of our knowledge, we describe here the most sensitive LC-MS multi-method for food allergen detection thus far. In addition, this is the first study that systematically compares MRM³ with MRM for the analysis of complex foods. Graphical abstract Allergen detection by MRM³.KorteRobinRInstitute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany.BrockmeyerJensJInstitute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany. jbrockm@uni-muenster.de.Analytical Food Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 5b, 70563, Stuttgart, Germany. jbrockm@uni-muenster.de.engJournal Article20160902