Protein Analysis using Proteotypic Peptides and LC-MS: Choosing the Chromatographic Separation for Optimal Coverage or Throughput

The science of protein analysis encompasses a range of analytical technologies including long established approaches such as gel electrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (1, 2) Over the past ten years, mass spectrometry, linked with soft ionisation techniques such as electrospray ionisation (ESI), nanospray and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI), has developed into an excellent tool for studying proteins in complex matrices. The combination of nanospray and liquid chromatography has since become the technique of choice for the majority of protein mass spectrometrists.