Abstract
Proteome analysis requires a comprehensive approach including high-performance separation methods, mass spectrometric analysis, and bioinformatics. While recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS) have led to remarkable improvements in the ability to characterize complex mixtures of biomolecules in proteomics, a proper pre-MS separation step of proteins/peptides is still required. The need of high-performance separation and/or isolation/purification techniques of proteins is increasing, due to the importance of proteins expressed at extremely low levels in proteome samples. In this review, flow field-flow fractionation (F4) is introduced as a complementary pre-analytical separation method for protein separation/isolation, which can be effectively utilized for proteomic research. F4 is a set of elution-based techniques that are capable of separating macromolecules by differences in diffusion coefficient and, therefore, in hydrodynamic size. F4 provides protein separation without surface interaction of the analyte with packing or gel media. Separation is carried out in an open channel structure by a flow stream of a mobile phase of any composition, and it is solely based on the interaction of the analytes with a perpendicularly-applied, secondary flow of the fluid. Therefore, biological analytes such as proteins can be kept under a bio-friendly environment without losing their original structural configuration. Moreover, proteins fractionated on a size/shape basis can be readily collected for further characterization or proteomic analysis by MS using, for instance, either on-line or off-line methods based on electrospray ionization (ESI) or matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI). This review focuses on the advantages of F4 compared to most-assessed separation/isolation techniques for proteomics, and on selected applications based on size-dependent proteome separation. New method developments based on the hyphenation of F4 with on-line or off-line MS, and with other separation methods such as capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) are also described.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
