Mass spectrometric detection of keratins in tear fluid.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Keratin contamination is a common problem in mass spectrometry proteomic analyses, particularly in bottom-up mass spectrometry. The purpose of this study was to determine the protein contaminants introduced during the proteomic analysis of tear fluid.

Methods

Human tear fluid samples were collected using Schirmer strips. Proteomic analyses were performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on blank Schirmer strips and tear fluid samples, with empty vials serving as controls for assessing environmental contaminant proteins.

Results

We detected 26 contaminant proteins (18 keratins and 8 non-keratins). 98.2% of the total protein contamination can be attributed to the 9 keratins, including KRT10 (23.6%), KRT1 (23.5%), KRT2 (15.7%), KRT1

SUBMITTER: Ahmed S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11798696 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature