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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Simultaneous Affinity Enrichment of Two Post-Translational Modifications for Quantification and Site Localization
Published on: February 27, 2020
A sensitive mass spectrometric method for hypothesis-driven detection of peptide post-translational modifications:
Richard D Unwin1, John R Griffiths, Anthony D Whetton
1Stem Cell and Leukaemia Proteomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. r.unwin@manchester.ac.uk
Abstract:
The application of a targeted mass spectrometric workflow to the sensitive identification of post-translational modifications is described. This protocol employs multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) to search for all putative peptides specifically modified in a target protein. Positive MRMs trigger an MS/MS experiment to confirm the nature and site of the modification. This approach, termed MIDAS (MRM-initiated detection and sequencing), is more sensitive than approaches using neutral loss scanning or precursor ion scanning methodologies, due to a more efficient use of duty cycle along with a decreased background signal associated with MRM. We describe the use of MIDAS for the identification of phosphorylation, with a typical experiment taking just a couple of hours from obtaining a peptide sample. With minor modifications, the MIDAS method can be applied to other protein modifications or unmodified peptides can be used as a MIDAS target.
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