[Mass spectrometry and clinical proteomics]

Abstract

Proteomic analysis was promising from many years proposing new markers of pathologies and new targets for drug development. Constant progress in technics makes proteomics more efficient. This progress needs the development of mass spectrometers more precise on mass determination, more resolutive on ions separation, more sensitive for their detection, much more adapted to quantification of peaks, and with automated apparatus built for high throughput proteomics. MALDI-TOF keeps an important place in proteomics, as well as for low budget teams as for laboratories developing quantification and high throughput with TOF/TOF mode. ESI source is easy to couple to nanoLC, a good method for sequencing in bottom up strategy with quadripoles (Q), TOF or even with ionic traps in tandem. The analysis of post-translational modifications has become possible with most configurations of MS/MS coupling. Finally, electrophoresis keeps its place as an efficient method for separation, and chromatography is the source of constant technics progress. Proteomics has a bright future with multiple progresses in many technics.

Keywords: ESI-MS/MS; MALDI-TOF; bi-dimensional electrophoresis; mass spectrometry; post-translational modifications; proteomics.