Method to study protein oxidation biomarkers using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)

Protein oxidation is known to affect the protein functionality in biological systems and food quality. Introduction of carbonyl groups into amino acid residues is a main pathway of oxidative damage to proteins. Two carbonyls, R-aminoadipic and glutamic semialdehydes, have been highlighted as the biomarkers of the oxidative damage to proteins in plasma and liver. In medical research, these semialdehydes have been used as biomarkers of oxidative stress and indicators of serious aging-related disorders and disease developments such as Alzheimer, rheumatoid arthritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and Parkinsons disease. The objective is to develop and optimize an electrospray ionization (ESI) LC-MS method for the sensitive quantification. This will also involve sample preparations such as protein handling, digestion, microwave-assisted derivatization, etc..