Enhanced sensitivity in proteomics experiments using FAIMS coupled with a hybrid linear ion trap/Orbitrap mass spectrometer

J Proteome Res. 2009 Jul;8(7):3355-66. doi: 10.1021/pr801106a.

Abstract

We describe the use and application of high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry combined with nanoscale liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (nanoLC-FAIMS-MS) to improve the sensitivity and dynamic range of proteomics analyses on a hybrid LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The ability of FAIMS to enrich multiply protonated peptides against background ions confers a marked advantage in proteomics analyses by decreasing the limits of detection to facilitate the identification of low-abundance peptide ions. These multiply charged ions are recorded into separate acquisition channels to enhance the overall population of detectable peptide ions from a single analysis. NanoLC-FAIMS-MS experiments performed on peptides spiked into complex proteins digests provided more than 10-fold improvement in limits of detection compared to conventional nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry. This enhancement of sensitivity is reflected by a 55% increase in the number of assigned MS/MS spectra contributing to an overall improvement in protein identification and sequence coverage. The application of FAIMS in label-free quantitative proteomics is demonstrated for the identification of differentially abundant proteins from human U937 monocytic cells exposed to phorbol ester.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Cytochromes c / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry / instrumentation
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteome
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Rabbits
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • U937 Cells

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Proteome
  • Cytochromes c