1.5 Proteinanalytik
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Organisationseinheit der BAM
Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (2)
Small organic molecule drugs are one of the key classes, taking increasingly important roles in modern drug development strategies. With the focus on small molecule drugs, difficulties originate frequently from a pronounced lipophilic character, resulting in poor water solubility, low bioavailability and unfavored pharmacokinetics. Recently, peptide-poly(ethylene glycol) conjugates (peptide-PEG conjugates) were described as precisely tunable platforms to solubilize a broad scope of fluorescent or non-fluorescent small organic molecules [1-2]. Selection of drug hosting peptides was achieved by combinatorial means, which can further be extended by implementation of a drug release screening step.
One-bead-one-compound peptide libraries are powerful tools to select high affinity binders. However, the selection of positive hits from the peptide libraries remains tedious as it occurs by handpicking, strongly limiting the pool of investigated beads. Here we report our recent results on improving the analytical platform, using automated fluorescence scanning and MALDI-ToF-ToF MS/MS imaging to screen larger sets of beads, broadening the statistical base and unraveling more precisely suitable peptides. The screening puts special emphasis on loading capacities and drug-release of transporters by performing additional washing steps in different media (cf. Fig. 1). Peptides representing strong, medium, weak releaser were chosen for further analysis and synthesized as peptide-polymer transporters. Release was analyzed by fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, due to the fluorescent characteristics of the drug.
Solubilization studies confirmed sufficient loading capacities for a potential anti-Alzheimer disease drug of three transporter molecules representing strong/weak drug releaser, reaching solubilization of up to 1:3.4 (µmol drug/µmol conjugate). Fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy of the drug-loaded transporter showed significant differences in drug releasing properties, confirming the screening process.
The quality of research antibodies is an issue for decades. Although several papers have been published to improve the situation, their impact seems to be limited. This publication makes the effort to simplify the description of validation criteria in a way that the occasional antibody user is able to assess the validation level of an immunochemical reagent. A simple, 1-page checklist is supplied for the practical application of these criteria.
Spec2Seq
(2018)
Hepcidin-25 concentrations measured by various methods differ considerably, complicating interpretation. Here, a previously identified plasma-based candidate secondary reference material (csRM) was modified into a serum-based two-leveled sRM. We validated its functionality to increase the equivalence between methods for international standardization. We applied technical procedures developed by the International Consortium for Harmonization of Clinical Laboratory Results. The sRM, consisting of lyophilized serum with cryolyoprotectant, appeared commutable among nine different measurement procedures using 16 native human serum samples in a first round robin (RR1). Harmonization potential of the sRM was simulated in RR1 and evaluated in practice in RR2 among 11 measurement procedures using three native human plasma samples. Comprehensive purity analysis of a candidate primary RM (cpRM) was performed by state-of-the-art procedures. The sRM was value assigned with an isotope dilution mass spectrometry-based candidate reference method calibrated using the certified pRM. The inter-assay CV without harmonization was 42.1% and 52.8% in RR1 and RR2, respectively. In RR1, simulation of harmonization with sRM resulted in an inter-assay CV of 11.0%, whereas in RR2 calibration with the material resulted in an inter-assay CV of 19.1%. Both the sRM and pRM passed international homogeneity criteria and showed long-term stability. We assigned values to the low (0.95 ± 0.11 nmol/L) and middle concentration (3.75 ± 0.17 nmol/L) calibrators of the sRM. Standardization of hepcidin is possible with our sRM, which value is assigned by a pRM. We propose the implementation of this material as an international calibrator for hepcidin-25.
Online immunocapture ICP‑MS for the determination of the metalloprotein ceruloplasmin in human serum
(2018)
The human copper-protein ceruloplasmin (Cp) is the major copper-containing protein in the human body. The accurate determination of Cp is mandatory for the reliable diagnosis of several diseases. However, the analysis of Cp has proven to be difficult. The aim of our work was a proof of concept for the determination of a metalloprotein-based on online immunocapture ICP-MS. The immuno-affinity step is responsible for the enrichment and isolation of the analyte from serum, whereas the compound-independent quantitation with ICP-MS delivers the sensitivity,
precision, and large dynamic range. Off-line ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was used in parallel to confirm the elution profile of the analyte with a structure-selective method. The total protein elution was observed with the 32S mass trace. The ICP-MS signals were normalized on a 59Co signal. The human copper-protein Cp could be selectively determined. This was shown with pure Cp and with a sample of human serum. The good correlation with off-line ELISA shows that Cp could be captured and eluted selectively from the anti-Cp affinity column and subsequently determined by the copper signal of ICP-MS.
A 2-dimensional high-throughput screening method is presented to select peptide sequences from large peptide libraries for precision formulation additives, having a high capacity to specifically host a drug of interest and provide tailored drug release properties. The identified sequences are conjugated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to obtain peptide-PEG conjugates that proved to be valuable as solubilizers for small organic molecule drugs to overcome limitations of poor water-solubility and low bio-availability. The 2D-screening method selects peptide sequences on both (i) high loading capacities and (ii) preferred drug-release capabilities as demonstrated on an experimental Tau-protein aggregation inhibitor/Tau- deaggregator with potentials for an anti-Alzheimer disease drug (BB17). To enable 2D-screening, a one-bead one-compound (OBOC) peptide library was immobilized on a glass slide, allocating individual beads to permanent positions. While the first screening step involved incubation of the supported OBOC library with BB17 to identify beads with high drug binding capacities by fluorescence scanner readouts, the second step reveals release properties of the high capacity binders by incubation with blood plasma protein model solutions. Efficiently peptides with high BB17 capacities and either keeper or medium or fast releaser properties can be identified by direct sequence readouts from the glass slide supported resin beads via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Four peptides are synthesized as peptide-PEG solubilizers representing strong, medium, weak releasers and non-binders. Loading capacities reached up to 1:3.4 (mol drug per mol carrier) and release kinetics (fast/medium/slow) are in agreement with the selection process as investigated by fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The ability of BB17/conjugate complexes to inhibit the aggregation of Tau4RDΔK (four repeat Tau ((M)Q244-E372 with deletion of K280), 129 residues) in N2a cells is studied by a Tau-pelleting assay showing the modulation of cellular Tau aggregation. Promising effects such as the reduction of 55% of total Tau load are observed for the strong releaser additive. Studies of in vitro Thioflavin S Tau-aggregation assays show half-maximal inhibitory activities (IC50 values) of BB17/conjugates in the low micro-molar range.
Multidimensional high throughput methods for the analysis of particle-based peptide libraries
(2018)
Screening of one-bead-one-peptide libraries is a useful procedure for the identification of protein ligands. The demand for binders with high affinity and high specificity towards various target proteins has surged in the biomedical field in the recent years. The 1 traditional peptide screening procedure involves tedious steps as selection, sequencing, and characterization. Herein, we developed a high-throughput – “all in one chip” system to avoid time-consuming separation steps.
Comparison of 1H chemical shifts and TOCSY data in the presence and absence of Ni2+ demonstrates that the metal binds at the N-terminus of the hepcidin-25. Chemical shift changes due to metal complexation decrease further away from the metal binding site, with the smallest effect at phenylalanine [Phe-4], proline [Pro-5] and isoleucine [Ile-6].
Hepcidin-25 regulates iron homeostasis in response to inflammation, erythropoietic demand and iron stores. The liver synthesizes three types of hepcidin, only hepcidin-25 indirectly regulates and coordinates use and storage of iron. Hepcidin-25 contains a well defined β-sheet and β-hairpin loop stabilized by four disulfide bonds. The N-terminus which plays a crucial role in the biological activity of hepcidin-25 was found to be disordered. The ATCUN motif sequence is present at the N-terminus (Asp-Thr-His). The ATCUN motif (H2N-X-X-His) binds Cu2+ and Ni2+ with high affinity and always contains histidine in its sequence. NMR provides an ideal tool to determine hepcidin-25’s threedimensional(3D) structure taking into account the Cu2+ and Ni2+ binding capacity of hepcidin’s ATCUN motif.
Screening of one-bead-one-peptide libraries is a useful procedure for the identification of protein ligands. The demand for binders with high affinity and high specificity towards various target proteins has surged in the biomedical field in the recent years. The traditional peptide screening procedure involves tedious steps as selection, sequencing, and characterization. Herein, we developed a high-throughput – “all in one chip” system to avoid time-consuming separation steps.
Hepcidin-25 was identified as the main iron regulator in the human body, and it by binds to the sole iron-exporter ferroportin. Studies showed that the N-terminus of hepcidin is responsible for this interaction, the same N-terminus that encompasses a small copper(II)-binding site known as the ATCUN (amino-terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-binding) motif. Interestingly, this copper-binding property is largely ignored in most papers dealing with hepcidin-25. In this context, detailed investigations of the complex formed between hepcidin-25 and copper could reveal insight into its biological role. The present work focuses on metal-bound hepcidin-25 that can be considered the biologically active form. The first part is devoted to the reversed-phase chromatographic separation of copper-bound and copper-free hepcidin-25 achieved by applying basic mobile phases containing 0.1% ammonia. Further, mass spectrometry (tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), high-resolution mass spectrometry HRMS)) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the copper-peptide. Lastly, a three-dimensional (3D)model of hepcidin-25with bound copper(II) is presented. The identification of metal complexes and potential isoforms and isomers, from which the latter usually are left undetected by mass spectrometry, led to the conclusion that complementary analytical methods are needed to characterize a peptide calibrant or reference material comprehensively. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS) and chiral amino acid analysis (AAA) should be considered among others.
Mass spectrometry-based methods play a crucial role in the quantification of the main iron metabolism regulator hepcidin by singling out the bioactive 25-residue peptide from the other naturally occurring N-truncated isoforms (hepcidin-20, -22, -24), which seem to be inactive in iron homeostasis. However, several difficulties arise in the MS analysis of hepcidin due to the sticky character of the peptide and the lack of suitable standards. Here, we propose the use of amino- and fluoro-silanized autosampler vials to reduce hepcidin interaction to laboratory glassware surfaces after testing several types of vials for the preparation of stock solutions and serum samples for isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS). Furthermore, we have investigated two sample preparation strategies and two chromatographic separation conditions with the aim of developing an LC-MS/MS method for the sensitive and reliable quantification of hepcidin-25 in serum samples. A chromatographic separation based on usual acidic mobile phases was compared with a novel approach involving the separation of hepcidin-25 with solvents at high pH containing 0.1% of ammonia. Both methods were applied to clinical samples in an intra-laboratory comparison of two LC-MS/MS methods using the same hepcidin-25 calibrators with good correlation of the results. Finally, we recommend an LC-MS/MS-based quantification method with a dynamic range of 0.5–40 μg/L for the assessment of hepcidin-25 in human serum that uses TFA-based mobile phases and silanized glass vials.
In dieser Arbeit wurden drei verschiedene Nanomaterialien auf ihre Bindungsfähigkeit zu Proteinen untersucht. Zu Beginn standen dabei die Herstellung stabiler Dispersionen der einzelnen Nanopartikel und die Stabilität der gebildeten Konjugate im Vordergrund. Der Nachweis einer erfolgreichen Konjugatbildung, sprich der Beschichtung von Nanopartikel mit Proteinen, wurde sowohl qualitativ mittels DLS-Messungen als auch über quantitative Protein-Bestimmungen erbracht. Für die Quantifizierung konnten verschiedene Methoden eingesetzt werden. Neben der klassischen Vorgehensweise, welche indirekt über die Quantifizierung von ungebundenem Protein im Überstand erfolgt, konnten ihm Rahmen dieser Arbeit verschiedene direkte Bestimmungsmethoden entwickelt werden. So wurden mittels kolorimetrischer Tests, wie dem BCA-Assay und dem Bradford-Assay, Nanodiamantdispersionen mit Hilfe einer Korrekturwellenlänge vermessen und quantifiziert. Ebenso zum Einsatz kam die Methode der Aminosäureanalytik, welche aufgrund ihrer guten Rückführbarkeit auf Aminosäurestandards Ergebnisse mit hoher Richtigkeit generieren kann und ebenso die Detektion kleiner Proteinmengen möglich macht.
Nach den erfolgten quantitativen Betrachtungen wurden die Protein-beschichteten Nanopartikel auf ihre Anwendbarkeit als Analoga von Virus-like Particles (VLP) bei einer Immunisierung zur Gewinnung von polyklonalen Antikörpern gegen humanes Ceruloplasmin in Kaninchen überprüft. Es konnte mittels ELISA gezeigt werden, dass die Konjugate erfolgreich für die Herstellung von Antikörpern eingesetzt werden können und im zeitlichen Verlauf einer Immunisierung eine Steigerung des Antikörper-Titers zu erreichen ist.
Phage display is used to find specific target binding peptides for polypropylene (PP) surfaces. PP is one of the most commonly used plastics in the world. Millions of tons are produced every year. PP binders are of particular interest because so far gluing or printing on PP is challenging due to its low surface energy. A phage display protocol for PP was developed followed by Next Generation DNA Sequencing of the whole phage library. Data analysis of millions of sequences yields promising peptide candidates which were synthesized as PEG conjugates. Fluorescence-based adsorption-elution-experiments show high adsorption on PP for several sequences.
Expression, purification and characterization of the recombinant cysteine-rich biomarker Hepcidin-25
(2018)
Hepcidin regulates iron homeostasis in response to inflammation, erythropoietic demand, and iron stores. The native state of hepcidin-25 is an attractive target for the development of a reliable analytical tool that can quantify the hepcidin concentration in biological samples and reveal iron metabolic disorders. Therefore, a selective immunoassay would have to discriminate between different types of hepcidin and quantify only hepcidin-25’s concentration. The peptide contains a well-defined β-sheets and a β-hairpin loop stabilized by four disulfide bonds. Recently, it was shown that hepcidin-25 contains an ATCUN motif at its N-terminus. This motif is known to have high affinity towards Cu2+ and Ni2+.
One of the aims of this study is to determine the three-dimensional (3D) structure of metal-bound hepcidin-25. Here, we present an optimized procedure for preparing natively folded hepcidin 25 (~2.80 kDa) and structural analysis of metal binding to hepcidin-25. Hepcidin was expressed as a His6-SUMO-hepcidin-25 fusion protein (~16.20 kDa) in Escherichia coli, Origami B strains, and purified as a soluble recombinant protein in three steps. After purification based on the nickel affinity chromatography, the purified His6-SUMO-hepcidin 25 fusion protein was cleaved by the SUMO-specific ULP1 protease. The liberated hepcidin 25 was further purified on a Superdex 30 16/600 column and folded in the last step of purification in the presence of glutathione. Freshly expressed hepcidin was kept in its reduced form to prevent misfolding and allow for efficient removal of the SUMO tag. The presence of natively folded hepcidin 25 after RP-HPLC was confirmed by ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy. Based on published chemical shifts, we achieved a nearly complete assignment of the labeled and unlabeled hepcidin-25 at pH=3. Comparison of 1H chemical shifts and TOCSY spectra at pH=7 in the presence and absence of Ni2+ demonstrates that the metal binds at the N-terminus of hepcidin 25. Chemical shift changes due to metal complexation decrease further away from the metal binding site.
Das Ziel der Arbeit war die Entwicklung einer magnetischen Anreicherungsmethode für eine Bead-basierte Substanzbibliothek zur Identifizierung von Proteinbindern. Im Ramen des Forschungsbelegs wurde bereits eine Anreicherungsmethode für ein Modellsystem einer Peptidbibliothek entwickelt. Das Modellsystem bestand dabei aus zwei verschiedenen Peptiden. Als Positivkontrolle wurde das FLAG-Peptid gewählt, welches selektiv gegen den Anti-FLAG-Antikörper bindet, und ein weiteres Peptid wurde als Negativkontrolle gewählt. Anhand dieses Modellsystems konnte die zuvor entwickelte Anreicherungsmethode von 20.000 auf 1.000.000 Beads vergrößert werden. Hierbei wurde ein Anreicherungsfaktor von 818 und eine gute Wiederfindungsrate von 82% erreicht.
Isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) is emerging in the field of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine as an alternative to immunoassays and is acknowledged as the MS “gold standard” for small biomolecule quantification. Hepcidin-25, a key iron-regulatory peptide hormone discovered in 2000, has revolutionized the understanding of iron disorders and its quantitative determination in biological samples should advance the management of iron-related pathology (diagnosis, prognosis and treatment). This study applied LC-MS/MS, using the triple quadrupole (QqQ) mass spectrometer, in a rapid and robust analytical strategy for the quantification of hepcidin-25 in human serum, to be implemented in routine laboratories. For this purpose, two sample preparation strategies and two complementary chromatographic separation conditions were investigated, where the use of acidic mobile phases (0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) was compared with a novel approach involving solvents at high pH (containing 0.1% ammonia). The application of these LC-MS/MS methods to human samples in an intra-laboratory comparison, using the same hepcidin-25 calibrators, yielded a very good correlation of the results. The LC-MS/MS employing trifluoroacetic acid-based mobile phases was selected as a highly sensitive (limit of quantification LOQ of 0.5 μg/L) and precise (coefficient of variation CV<15%) method and was recommended as a reference method candidate for hepcidin-25 quantification in real samples (in the dynamic range of 0.5-40 μg/L). One of the novel aspects of the methodology was the use of amino- and fluoro-silanized autosampler vials to reduce the interaction of the 25-residue peptide to laboratory glassware surfaces. Moreover, this LC-MS/MS method was used for an international round robin study, applying a secondary reference material as a calibrator. By determining the degree of equivalence between the results of the ten participating methodologies, the performance of the method developed in this study was found to be in the optimal range as defined by the International Consortium for Harmonization of Clinical Laboratory Results (ICHCLR). In this work, the formation of hepcidin-25 complexes with copper(II) was investigated. The first reversed-phase chromatographic separation of hepcidin-25/Cu2+ and hepcidin-25 (copper “free”) was achieved by applying mobile phases containing 0.1% of ammonia (pH 11). LC-MS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry (Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) MS) were applied for the mass spectrometric characterization of the formed hepcidin-25-Cu(II) species at pH values of 11 and 7.4 respectively. A new species corresponding to hepcidin-25 complexed with two copper ions was identified at high pH.
Synthetic peptide pools are used in antigen-specific T-cell assays, which are an important part in vaccine and immunotherapeutic clinical trials. As the analytical characterization is challenging due to the similarity of the single peptides or is expensive due to isotope labeled standards, usually only a pre-characterization of the single peptides is performed. However, a regular quality control of the peptide mix would be highly desirable. Therefore, a cost-efficient high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) method for quality control of a model peptide pool is developed.
Peptides were synthesized using peptides&elephants proprietary libraries of individual peptides (LIPS) technology and purified by reversed-phase chromatography to > 90% each. The lyophilized single peptides were combined to a model peptide pool and analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance capillary liquid chromatography coupled to an orbitrap mass spectrometer. Separation was performed on a capillary reversed phase column (2 μm, ID x L 300 μm x 150 mm) with a linear gradient of acetonitrile + 0,05% trifluoroacetic acid.
For the separation of a model peptide pool the additive, additive concentration, the gradient elution and the temperature were optimized. Different quantification approaches were tested. Identification was performed by high resolution mass spectrometry in which extracted ion chromatograms (XIC) were used to confirm exact masses.
In line with the development of a new cost-efficient quality control method for the separation and identification of complex synthetic peptide pools, varied HPLC parameters highlighted their influence on chromatographic resolution and peptides were identified with high mass accuracy.
Type-I pyrethroids are frequently used for disinfection purposes against insects such as adult mosquitoes, or diseases carried by insects, like Malaria or Zika in cabins of airplanes on long-distance flights especially from tropical destinations. This treatment is mandatory at various airports but compliance with the rules is difficult to test for. Moreover, if improperly used, these compounds can entail negative health effects for crews and passengers.
The detection of the pyrethroids will be achieved thanks to an antibody-gated indicator delivery system (gAID) utilizing monoclonal antibodies and hybrid sensory nanoparticles. After the interaction of the pyrethroid with the gAID, the liberated indicator (dye) will be detected. Since only few analyte molecules are necessary for pore opening yet release a large number of dyes, the system shows intrinsic signal amplification.
The device system to be developed has to be so simple that chemically untrained personnel, such as ground or cabin crew, can use it and obtain a result in a reasonably short period of time, e.g., ≤5 min. The need for high accuracy and sufficient sensitivity, established at 0.001 g m–2, is a critical requirement and imposes another significant challenge since this value is beyond current LFTs reported in the literature for pesticide detection to date.
In order to achieve the selectivity and sensitivity required by the test itself, and to avoid cross reactivity with other type I pyrethroids, the production of a monoclonal antibody for both Permethrin and Phenontrin is necessary. The synthesis of the two hapten molecules and the subsequent immunization with different immunogens represent the first goal of the work.
Hepcidin-25 has attracted much attention ever since its discovery in 2001. It is widely recognized that this peptide hormone plays a major role in the regulation of iron levels in mammals and can reveal important clinical information about several iron-related disorders. However, the development of a reliable assay to quantify hepcidin proved to be problematic and serum hepcidin-25 concentrations determined by various assays differ substantially. Challenges arise in the MS analysis of hepcidin due to the “sticky” character of the peptide and the lack of suitable standards.
With the aim to tackle the current difficulties in hepcidin quantification and improve the status of this promising biomarker in the clinical field, we developed a rapid and robust analytical strategy for the quantification of hepcidin-25 in human samples based on HPLC-MS/MS (QqQ) as a reference method candidate to be implemented in routine laboratories. The novelty of the method is the use of amino- and fluoro-silanized autosampler vials to reduce hepcidin interaction to laboratory glassware surfaces. Furthermore, we have investigated two sample preparation strategies and two chromatographic separation conditions where the use of acidic mobile phases was compared with a novel approach involving solvents at high pH containing 0.1% of ammonia. Both methods were carefully validated and applied to clinical samples in an intra-laboratory comparison of two LC-MS/MS methods using the same hepcidin-25 calibrators with very good correlation of the results.
Laser-induced plasma (LIP) has drawn significant amount of attentions in the past decades, particular in elemental analyses for solid or liquid samples. Through proper focusing of the highly energetic laser beam, the plasma can also be ignited in the ambient air, where airborne analytes can be ionized. Such an effect enabled the use of airborne LIP as an ambient ionization source for mass spectrometric analyses. In contrast to other ambient desorption/ionization sources, airborne LIP does not require a specific discharge medium or expensive gas stream. Meanwhile, the airborne LIP produces reagent ion species for both proton-transfer and charge-transfer reactions in addition to the vacuum ultraviolent photons that are capable of promoting single photon ionization, which can be utilized to ionize polar and non-polar analytes. In order to gauge the analytical performance of airborne LIP, it is critical to understand the undergoing chemistry and physics during and after the plasma formation.
Due to the ambient nature of airborne LIP, the variations of air composition and flow strongly affect the plasma behaviors. Preliminary result suggested the addition of a laminar flow of nitrogen gas favored the formation of protonated species (MH+) against the molecular ones (M+). Although the gas addition approach cannot fully tune the ionization process towards the specific production of pseudo-molecular species versus molecular ones, the alternation of molecular ion formation can be used for analyte recognitions through post processing of the ion patterns. The pulsed character of the used lasers makes the reagent ion equilibrium both transient- and highly fluid-dynamically controlled. The acoustic shock-waves induced by the airborne LIP get affected by an applied gas streams towards the plasma center, influencing the molecular-ion and ion-ion interactions in the near proximity of the plasma.
To understand the airborne LIP formation, the temporally and spatially resolved optical emission spectra were recorded. The results will be correlated to time-resolved mass-spectrometric investigations of the ion profile during different stages of the plasma formation. As one example, the formation of pyrylium ion originating from aromatic compounds will be highlighted.
The fundamental properties of a polymeric material are ultimately governed by its structure, which mainly relies on monomercomposition and connection, topology, chain length, and polydispersity. Thus far, these structural characteristics are typicallyset ex situ by the specific polymerization procedure, eventually limiting the future design space for the creation of moresophisticated polymers. Herein, we report on a single photoswitchable catalyst system, which enables in situ remote controlover the ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide and further allows regulation of the incorporation of trimethylene carbonateand δ -valerolactone monomers in copolymerizations. By implementing a phenol moiety into a diarylethene-type structure,we exploit light-induced keto–enol tautomerism to switch the hydrogen-bonding-mediated monomer activation reversiblyON and OFF. This general and versatile principle allows for exquisite external modulation of ground-state catalysis of a livingpolymerization process in a closed system by ultraviolet and visible light and should thereby facilitate the generation of newpolymer structures.
Synthetic peptide pools are used in antigen-specific T-cell assays, which are an important part in vaccine and immunotherapeutic clinical trials. As the analytical characterization is challenging due to the similarity of the single peptides or is expensive due to isotope labeled standards, usually only a pre-characterization of the single peptides is performed. However, a regular quality control of the peptide mix would be highly desirable. Therefore, a cost-efficient high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) method for quality control of a model peptide pool is developed.
Peptides were synthesized using peptides&elephants proprietary libraries of individual peptides (LIPS) technology and purified by reversed-phase chromatography to > 90% each. The lyophilized single peptides were combined to a model peptide pool and analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance capillary liquid chromatography coupled to an orbitrap mass spectrometer. Separation was performed on a capillary reversed phase column (2 μm, ID x L 300 μm x 150 mm) with a linear gradient of acetonitrile + 0,05% trifluoroacetic acid.
After optimizing the injection mode, the gradient elution, the temperature and the additives a model peptide pool was separated. The extracted ion chromatogram (XIC) was studied to confirm the exact masses.
By combination of capillary HPLC and HRMS a new cost-efficient quality control method could be developed for the separation and identification of complex synthetic peptide pools.