OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION PROCESSES FOR USE IN DISCOVERY OF PROTEOMIC PATTERNS FROM BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

摘要

A test sample for separation of protein and protein fragments in an electrospray apparatus and analysis in a mass spectrometer includes a biological sample from a mammal and a diluent. In one embodiment, the biological sample is diluted with the diluent at a ratio within the range of about 1 to 250, volume to volume, and about 1 to 500, volume to volume. In one embodiment, the protein and protein fragments in the test sample are separated using a nano-electrospray apparatus. In one embodiment, the proteins and the protein fragments are analyzed with a mass spectrometer in a range of mass-to-charge values including a range between about 300 and about 2000.