Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Quantification of Proteins Using Peptide Immunoaffinity Enrichment Coupled with Mass Spectrometry
Published on: July 31, 2011
Quantifying epitope presentation using mass spectrometry
Nathan P Croft1, Anthony W Purcell1, David C Tscharke2
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3141, Australia.
Understanding the absolute quantities of MHC-bound epitopes (pMHC) presented on the surface of cells has long been a critical missing element in our knowledge of antigen presentation to T cells. Until recently, attaining such information has been restricted to the use of pMHC complex-specific monoclonal antibodies or T cell assays probing fractionated peptides eluted from cells. Although successful in a variety of cases, such approaches are limited in their scope and feasibility due to the nature of the reagents they are reliant upon. Here we report on the advancement of targeted mass spectrometry techniques to provide simultaneous and direct measurements of the relative and absolute levels of pMHC molecules and its potential for impact upon the field of antigen processing and presentation.
Understanding the absolute quantities of MHC-bound epitopes (pMHC) presented on the surface of cells has long been a critical missing element in our knowledge of antigen presentation to T cells. Until recently, attaining such information has been restricted to the use of pMHC complex-specific monoclonal antibodies or T cell assays probing fractionated peptides eluted from cells. Although successful in a variety of cases, such approaches are limited in their scope and feasibility due to the nature of the reagents they are reliant upon. Here we report on the advancement of targeted mass spectrometry techniques to provide simultaneous and direct measurements of the relative and absolute levels of pMHC molecules and its potential for impact upon the field of antigen processing and presentation.

