Mapping protein post-translational modifications with mass spectrometry
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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Fast and Quantitative Method for Post-translational Modification and Variant Enabled Mapping of Peptides to Genomes
Published on: May 22, 2018
Eric S Witze1, William M Old, Katheryn A Resing
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, USA.
Abstract:
Post-translational modifications of proteins control many biological processes, and examining their diversity is critical for understanding mechanisms of cell regulation. Mass spectrometry is a fundamental tool for detecting and mapping covalent modifications and quantifying their changes. Modern approaches have made large-scale experiments possible, screening complex mixtures of proteins for alterations in chemical modifications. By profiling protein chemistries, biologists can gain deeper insight into biological control. The aim of this review is introduce biologists to current strategies in mass spectrometry-based proteomics that are used to characterize protein post-translational modifications, noting strengths and shortcomings of various approaches.
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