Post-translational Modifications

Post-translational Modifications (PTM) can be identified by mass spectrometric techniques and database searching of tandem MS data.

A list of known PTM's can be found on unimod.org (about 1000 entries). Some of the most common PTM's are: phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, glycosylation. Because of the often low stoichiometry of the modification, proteins or peptides often have to be enriched. IMAC (immobilised metal affinity chromatography) and TiO2 (Titanium dioxide) are examples for phosphopeptide enrichment.

The combination of different MS fragmentation techniques can be used for peptide sequencing and characterization of PTMs. The fragmentation techniques available at the FGCZ are: Collision Induced Dissociation (CID), Electron Transfer Dissociation (ETD) and Higher Energy Collision Dissociation (HCD).

Support Modes

Screening for post-translational modifications is available as Analytical Service and as User lab project.

Contacts

Analytical Service:
Rene Brunisholz - Protein Service
Peter Hunziker - Protein Service
Peter Gehrig - user lab
Paolo Nanni - user lab