Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry as a rapid monitoring method for pegylation of polypeptides

摘要

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugation (PEGylation) of biomolecules is now common practice in efforts to achieve prolonged clinical response (1-2). One of the great challenges of PEG chemistry is analysis of PEg derivatives and their conjugates. The most significant recent advance in thsi direction has been the availability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) (3-4). MALDI-TOF MS has now become widely adopted and is used extensively for the mass analysis of proteins including PEGlylated conjugates. This method is useful for not only determining the true molecular mass of PEGylated species, but also identifying the individual species contained in a particular preparation (4).