Quantitative mass spectrometry for bacterial protein toxins--a sensitive, specific, high-throughput tool for detection and diagnosis.

ABSTRACT: Matrix-assisted laser-desorption time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is a valuable high-throughput tool for peptide analysis. Liquid chromatography electrospray ionization (LC-ESI) tandem-MS provides sensitive and specific quantification of small molecules and peptides. The high analytic power of MS coupled with high-specificity substrates is ideally suited for detection and quantification of bacterial enzymatic activities. As specific examples of the MS applications in disease diagnosis and select agent detection, we describe recent advances in the analyses of two high profile protein toxin groups, the Bacillus anthracis toxins and the Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins. The two binary toxins produced by B. anthracis consist of protective antigen (PA) which combines with leth

SUBMITTER: Boyer AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6259840 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature