Detection and Measurement of Methionine Oxidation in Proteins

Methionine oxidation is a prevalent modification found in proteins both in biological settings and in the manufacturing of biotherapeutic molecules. In cells, the oxidation of specific methionine sites can modulate protein function or promote interactions that trigger signaling pathways. In biotherapeutic development, the formation of oxidative species could be detrimental to the efficacy or safety of the drug product. Thus, methionine oxidation is a critical quality attribute that needs to be monitored throughout development. Here we describe a method using LC/MS/MS to identify site-specific methionine modifications in proteins. Antibodies are stressed with hydrogen peroxide, and the level of Met oxidation is compared to that of reference molecules. The protocols presented here are not specific to methionine and can be used more generally to identify other PTM risk sites in molecules after various types of treatments. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.