Mass spectrometry could solve pharma riddle

The riddle of what happens at the carboxy-termini of protein clippings has puzzled pharma professionals for some time.

While the amino-termini of protein clippings have been successfully analysed, pharma researchers have thus far failed to find a satisfactory way to investigate the clippings' other ends.

However, mass spectrometry may provide the answer, as scientists at Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg have revealed.

The discovery could hold promise for the research of medical conditions - such as the role of cathepsin proteases in cancer development.

Using mass spectrometry as part of a multi-stage process, the scientists identified carboxy-terminal sequences following proteolysis.

They claim to have unearthed a relatively high rate of proteolysis, as 40 per cent of carboxy-termini identified are believed to have been created through molecular cleavage.

The University recently hosted a conference of about 350 scientists who discussed issues relating to systems biology and, in particular, generalising research at the cellular level to be applied to whole mammalian organisms.