Could Proteomic Research Deliver the Next Generation of Treatments for Pneumococcal Meningitis?
Figure 4
(a) Proteins from mixtures are analysed using 2D PAGE followed by mass spectrometry. The identification of proteins is from the spectra produced from the peptides of the digested proteins which provide a unique fingerprint from the peptides. Protein microarrays consist of different protein binding molecules, for example, antibodies at separate locations on a chip made from glass or silicone to capture molecules to detect proteins from cell lysate solutions. The proteins can be visualised using a fluorometric or colorimetric analysis or the spots can be analysed by mass spectrometry. (b) Multidimensional liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) involves digestion of a complex protein sample initially using a strong cation exchange (SCX) column. The resulting peptides are separated by LC into fractions. The resulting fractions are separated further using a reversed-phase (RP) column and characterized by mass spectrometry using shotgun sequencing of the peptides.
