Complete and rapid peptide and glycopeptide mapping of mouse monoclonal antibody by LC/MS/MS using ion trap mass spectrometry

Complete and rapid peptide and glycopeptide mapping of a mouse monoclonal immunoglobulin (IgG2b) were carried out by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/ESI IT-MS/MS). It was possible to obtain spectra of a minor glycopeptide at a quantity as low as 1.8 pmol. Reduced and carboxymethylated mouse antidansyl monoclonal IgG2b (RCM-IgG2b) was digested with lysyl-endopeptidase. Proteolytic peptides were subjected to capillary HPLC separation followed by analysis with an ion trap mass spectrometer. The complete amino acid sequence of the IgG2b was characterized by using LC/ESI IT-MS/MS, The structures of 12 different types of O-linked oligosaccharides attached to Thr-221AH in the hinge region and those of three major types of N-linked oligosaccharides attached to Asn-297H have been characterized.