The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by a vast array of microbes, which form communities of bacteria, viruses and microbial eukaryotes that are specific to people of different ages, diet habits, and health conditions. Gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in human health and fitness. Despite that metagenomic studies provide us with a massive of valuable data, one cannot thoroughly analyze the microbial communities without studying protein expression under certain environmental conditions. Metaproteomics is the large-scale identification and quantification of proteins in order to study the expression and function of proteins from microbial communities, and thus provides insights into the phenotypes of microorganisms on the protein level. With the recent advances of chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques, this field has been widely extended since brought up in 2004.
CD Genomics, as a preeminent corporation that has many years of experience in proteomics, provides state-of-the-art and most practical mass spectrometry techniques to add value to your gut metaproteomics research. We present two routes of strategies for metaproteomic research – the first is two-dimensional electrophoresis aligned with mass spectrometry; the second is chromatography aligned with mass spectrometry, also referred to as shotgun method. Both strategies involve the utilization of mass spectrometry, which performs detection as well as composition and structural analysis by determining the mass to charge ratio (m/z) of proteins.
We provide metaproteomic detection and analysis with the following types of mass spectrometry that are most frequently used in proteomic research:
Mass spectrometer, Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)
- High sensitivity
- Abundant structural information
- Applicability to both small organic and large biological molecules
- Sequence determination of peptides and proteins
- Derive huge amounts of data
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS)
- High throughput, high sensitivity, superior mass resolution, and accuracy
- Soft ionization -analyze intact biomolecules and synthetic polymers
- Works in the range of molecular masses between 400 and 350,000 Da
- More robust that ESI (relatively tolerant of salts and nonvolatile components)
- Fast data acquisition
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)
- Soft ionization -analyze intact biomolecules and synthetic polymers
- Ionizes analytes in multiple charge states to detect large size proteins
- Solution-phase information can be retained into the gas-phase
- Analysis can be coupled to liquid chromatography
- High separation
We dedicate to providing the highest level of service in gut microbiota research. To find out more about mass spectrometry services, please feel free to contact us.
*For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.