Studies of Peptide Binding to Allyl Amine and Vinyl Acetic Acid-Modified Polymers Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that increases in surface–peptide binding affinity result in decreases in peptide matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) ion signals. The present work demonstrates that, with appropriate corrections for peptide ionization efficiency under MALDI conditions, relative surface–peptide binding affinities can be assayed using the MALDI MS methodology. Peptides with a range of pI values are allowed to interact with amine-modified and carboxylic acid-modified polymer surfaces (produced by pulsed radio-frequency plasma polymerization of allyl amine and vinyl acetic acid) in buffered solutions of neutral pH. Because of the net positive and negative charges associated with the peptides and surfaces in solution, both electrostatic and hydrophilic interactions play a role in the surface–peptide interaction. Consistent with expectations, the peptide MALDI ion signals for peptides with net negative charges in solution are smaller than those for peptides with net positive charges in solution when the peptides are allowed to interact with positively charged surfaces. A reversal of the relative peptide MALDI ion signal intensities is observed when the same peptides are allowed to interact with negatively charged surfaces. Cumulatively, the results demonstrate that even modest changes in surface–peptide interactions can be comparatively probed by MALDI mass spectrometry.