PNNL

Abstract

Proteomic sample preparation techniques rely on dynamic multi-step processes that are sample type dependent. Forensic proteomic applications comprise diverse sample types and therefore require numerous sample preparation workflows. A sample may need pre-treatment steps to solubilize proteins from a solid surface, for example - from clothing, from a swab, or off of a filter. A sample may need to be disrupted or homogenized to liberate proteins trapped in cells. Or a sample may need additional processing steps, such as organic extraction, to isolate proteins from small molecule contaminants which interfere with mass spectrometry (MS) measurements. Following these pre-treatment steps, proteins are reduced, denatured, alkylated, and enzymatically digested. The resulting peptide mixture can be desalted by solid phase extraction or fractionated prior to liquid chromatography MS-based proteomic characterization. Here we detail each step of this multi-stage sample type dependent processing.