New MS process created

Scientists have created a new mass spectrometry (MS) process that for the first time ever will allow for the absolute quantification of proteins from Plasmodium falciparum.

In a study published by the Malaria Journal and undertaken by a team from the UK, the scientists noted that Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite and one of the species of Plasmodium that is known to cause severe malaria in humans.

The team undertook the process which involved "selected reaction monitoring MS ... combined with the use of an isotopically labelled synthetic protein, made up of proteotypic tryptic peptides selected from parasite proteins of interest".

Following the investigation the scientists noted that the methodology was found to be of a sufficient sensitivity to quantify, even within the whole cell extracts used in the study, a low abundance of proteins from the folate pathway, as well a more common "housekeeping" proteins.

The team added that with the e ability to represent a dozen or more proteins of interest in one labelled artificial protein, there is great potential for this approach to provide a relatively high-throughput application.