PNNL

Abstract

In contrast to lower phosphorylation states (e.g., the tryptic monophosphopeptide FQpSEEQQQTEDELQDK from bovine ?-casein), the specific detection of multi-phosphorylated peptides (e.g. the tetraphosphopeptide RELEELNVPGEIVEpSLpSpSpSEESITR from tryptic digestion of bovine ?-casein) has often been problematic for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis due to their high affinity for adsorption to exposed surfaces. We observed an enhancement in the overall detection of phosphopeptides upon addition of phosphoric acid (0.1% to 1.0%) to the sample solution; a 10-fold increase in sensitivity was measured for the detection of two tryptic phosphopeptides as well as a significant improvement in the detection of the tetraphosphopeptide. Using capillary LC with an ion trap tandem mass spectrometer for detection and identification, the achievable detection limits were 50 fmol and 50 pmol for the monophosphopeptide and the tetraphosphopeptide, respectively. Phosphoric acid is believed to act as a blocking agent to available silanol groups on both the silica capillary surface and the C-18-bonded silica surface.