Extracellular matrix profiling

Cells and biological chain,molecules and abstract conception,3d rendering. Computer digital drawing.

Quantification of alterations in abundance and modifications of ECM proteins.

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.

Extracellular matrix profiling — Figure 1: Extracellular matrix (ECM) is solubilised by guanidinium containing buffers and mechanic force treatment to maximise accessibility of the rather insoluble material and direct in solution proteolysis further degrades the insoluble components. Samples are analysed by LC-MSMS followed by quantitative analyses with focus on identification and quantification of collagen modifications.