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Recent developments and applications of electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry in proteomics

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Abstract

Electron transfer dissociation (ETD) has been developed recently as an efficient ion fragmentation technique in mass spectrometry (MS), being presently considered a step forward in proteomics with real perspectives for improvement, upgrade and application. Available also on affordable ion trap mass spectrometers, ETD induces specific N–Cα bond cleavages of the peptide backbone with the preservation of the post-translational modifications and generation of product ions that are diagnostic for the modification site(s). In addition, in the last few years ETD contributed significantly to the development of top-down approaches which enable tandem MS of intact protein ions. The present review, covering the last 5 years highlights concisely the major achievements and the current applications of ETD fragmentation technique in proteomics. An ample part of the review is dedicated to ETD contribution in the elucidation of the most common posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation and glycosylation. Further, a brief section is devoted to top-down by ETD method applied to intact proteins. As the last few years have witnessed a major expansion of the microfluidics systems, a few considerations on ETD in combination with chip-based nanoelectrospray (nanoESI) as a platform for high throughput top-down proteomics are also presented.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by FP7 MARIE CURIE-PIRSES-GA-2010-269256 project, PN-II-ID-2011-0047, RU-TE-2011-0008 and PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-0187 projects granted by the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research (ANCS/UEFISCDI) and POSDRU 107/1.5/S/78702 project through the European Social Fund.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Analysis and Modeling of Biological Systems, “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad, Revolutiei Blvd. 77, 310130, Arad, Romania

    Mirela Sarbu & Alina D. Zamfir

  2. Physics Department, West University Timisoara, Vasile Parvan Blvd. 4, 300223, Timisoara, Romania

    Mirela Sarbu

  3. Department of Neonatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania

    Roxana M. Ghiulai

  4. National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Plautius Andronescu Str. 1, 300224, Timisoara, Romania

    Alina D. Zamfir

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  1. Mirela Sarbu
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  2. Roxana M. Ghiulai
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  3. Alina D. Zamfir
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Correspondence to Alina D. Zamfir.

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M. Sarbu and R. M. Ghiulai equal contributed.

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Sarbu, M., Ghiulai, R.M. & Zamfir, A.D. Recent developments and applications of electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry in proteomics. Amino Acids 46, 1625–1634 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1726-y

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