Human coelomic fluid investigation: A MS-based analytical approach to prenatal screening

Abstract

Coelomic fluid (CF) is the earliest dynamic and complex fluid of the gestational sac. CF contains maternal cells and proteins produced by embryonic cells, tissues and excretions. The biochemical composition of CF is modified throughout the first trimester of pregnancy and its protein profile reflects both physiological/pathological changes affecting the embryo and mother. Identification of variations in the balance of proteins might indicate particular types of pathologies, or ascertain specific genetic disorders. A platform utilizing protein enrichment procedures coupled with shotgun identification and iTRAQ differentiation provided the identification and quantitation of 88 unique embryonic proteins. It is relevant to note that chromosome X protein CXorf23 was found suggesting the embryo sex. Foetal sex was determined by Quantitative Fluorescent Polymerase Chain Reaction (QF-PCR) on coelomic cells, foetal tissues and maternal white blood cells, with a 100% concordance rate between iTRAQ-MS/MS and QF-PCR data. The functional associations among the identified proteins were investigated using STRING database. Open Targets Platform showed as significant the following therapeutic areas: nervous, respiratory, eye and head system disease.

MS-based proteomic analysis of cardiac response to hypoxia in the goldfish (Carassius auratus)

“…Literature data revealed the tri-modality feature for zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) heart proteome, with the majority of proteins centered around pIs 5.5 and 9 and fewer proteins around neutral pI 27 . Furthermore, proteomic data on Gillichthys mirabilis cardiac tissues revealed 37 protein, involved in energy metabolism, mitochondrial regulation, iron homeostasis, cytoprotection against hypoxia, and cytoskeletal organization, with the majority of proteins centered around pIs 5.5–6.5 28 The reliable detection of species-specific proteins and peptides, unique in mass and amino acid sequence, depends on proper protein solubilization, digestion, and sensitive MS analysis 29,30 . Therefore, two different aqueous media were tested for the ability to extract proteins from the goldfish cardiac tissues: phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) and ammonium bicarbonate solution (50 mM, pH 8).…”

Speciation Study on O-Phosphorylethanolamine and O-Phosphorylcholine: Acid–Base Behavior and Mg2+ Interaction

“…All MS and MS/MS experiments were performed, as published elsewhere ( Aiello et al, 2018 ; Imbrogno et al, 2019 ). All experiments were conducted using a 5800 MALDI-TOF/TOF analyzer (AB-SCIEX), supplied with a neodymium–yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser, operating at 349 nm.…”

Molecular species fingerprinting and quantitative analysis of saffron (Crocus sativusL.) for quality control by MALDI mass spectrometry

“…Mass spectrometry is a well-established method for the high-throughput detection and quantitative analysis 13 of metabolites, 14 amino acids and their synthetic analogues, 15 and proteins. 16 Direct MS analysis of foods or food extracts 17,18 has been found to be a useful and robust approach for the chemical fingerprinting when rapid classification of food-sample types or rapid screening of food adulteration is wanted. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) techniques have seldom been considered for both direct analysis of saffron extracts, and for quantifying adulterants in saffron.…”