Extracellular matrix profiling

The extracellular matrix is a highly complex 3D network of macromolecules and minerals, providing structural and biochemical support to surrounding cells. Abnormal remodelling has been described in a variety of diseases, e.g. fibrosis, cancer and osteoarthritis. In standard mass spectrometric sample preparation workflows ECM proteins are often underrepresented due to a rather inefficient solubilisation prior to tryptic digest. Our specialized enrichment and proteolysis protocol allows for efficient identification and quantification of a variety of ECM and other insoluble proteins (e.g. from membranes); including information on collagen chain stoichiometries and collagen modifications.