Protein biomarker quantification by mass spectrometry

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• The quantification of protein biomarkers is crucial for developing accurate diagnostic tests.
• Multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS), initially used for small molecules, is now being adapted for peptide quantification.
• There is growing interest in applying MRM-MS for protein biomarker assays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize MRM-MS techniques for quantifying protein biomarkers and biomarker panels.
• To review the clinical applications of MRM-MS in biomarker testing.
• To explore future directions for MRM-MS in biomarker qualification and verification.

Main Methods:

• A literature survey was conducted on the use of MRM-MS for quantifying protein biomarker panels.
• The summary includes techniques for protein biomarker quantification and clinical applications.
• The analytical characteristics of MRM-MS relevant to clinical laboratory assays were considered.

Main Results:

• MRM-MS is increasingly adopted for protein biomarker quantification, including panels.
• The technique is well-suited for adaptation to peptide analysis.
• Current literature supports the application of MRM-MS in clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• MRM-MS is a promising approach for protein biomarker quantification and the development of biomarker tests.
• Future work should focus on the qualification and verification of candidate protein biomarkers using MRM-MS.
• The analytical precision of MRM-MS makes it ideal for clinical laboratory biomarker assays.