Protein Characterization Learning Centre.
Welcome to our Proteomics Learning Centre! Here, you will find all the latest resources and insights on diverse topics ranging from antibodies to drug discovery and development to protein characterization to bioinformatics and much, much more.
Specializing in mass spectrometry, AI, and proteomics, our team is eager to share our knowledge and expertise on these technologies and their applications toward antibody discovery, generation, and characterization.
Begin Here by Learning About the Application of Mass Spectrometry in de novo Protein Sequencing.
- What is Protein Mass Spectrometry? – Article
- How to Determine Peptide Sequences – Article
- Antibody Characterization by Mass Spectrometry – Webinar
Read our Introductory Resources on Antibodies and Their Diverse Formats.
- What are Monoclonal Antibodies? / What are Polyclonal Antibodies? – Articles
- What Generates Antibody Diversity? – Article
- Antibody Affinity and Avidity – The Strength of a Single Interaction Versus a Multivalent Interaction – Article
Explore the Discovery and Development Pipeline for Therapeutic Antibodies.
- Antibody Drug Discovery and Development: Dive into each of the stages of early drug discovery and development – Article
- Immunochemical Characterization of Therapeutic Antibodies – Article
- Functional Characterization of Therapeutic Antibodies – Article
Learn More About how de novo Protein Sequencing Can Help Tackle the Reproducibility Crisis in the Life Sciences.
- Tackling Reproducibility in Life Sciences with Next Generation Protein Sequencing and Recombinant Expression – Article
- Antibody Validation and its Use Cases – Article
- Overcoming Irreproducibility in Life Science Research – Webinar
We encourage you to dive into more of our resources below and contact us any time for more information.
Latest Posts
Resources
What is Protein Mass Spectrometry?
Protein mass spectrometry refers to the use of mass spectrometry in studying and characterizing proteins, including their quantification, profiling, interaction mapping, and identification of their post-translational modifications. Protein mass spectrometry may also be referred to as mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics comprises three approaches: top-down, middle-down, and bottom-up proteomics.
Key Pain Points in Amino Acid Sequencing & How to Avoid Them
Amino acid sequencing is commonly performed using Edman degradation or mass spectrometry (MS). While mass spectrometry is favoured for its high throughput capabilities and ease of use, both techniques possess their own features and limitations. This article summarizes some of the key pain points inherent in the two methodologies when determining the amino acid sequence.
What is the De Novo Amino Acid Sequencing Method?
Proteins are composed of peptide chains, which in turn are made up of a string or linear sequence of amino acids. Every amino acid has a basic structure containing an amino (-NH2) group and a carboxylic (-COOH) group (Figure 1B). To form a peptide, amino acids link to each other via a peptide bond, which involves the reaction between the carboxylic group of one amino acid and the amine group of another amino acid.
Why Verifying the Protein Sequence Is Crucial for Antibody Validation
As proteins are assembled, they fold into different structural orders: from primary to quaternary. The exact sequence of the primary structure (the amino acid sequence) will dictate how a protein will fold and function. The importance of the primary structure has been noted in several studies, where changes in the original amino acid sequence have resulted in affinity problems, binding disruption, reduced half-life, and higher aggregation odds.
De Novo Protein Sequencing vs DNA Sequencing
DNA sequencing is the process of determining the precise order of four nucleotides bases—adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T)—that make up the DNA molecule. From Sanger sequencing to next-generation sequencing (NGS), DNA sequencing’s accessibility and ease of use make it one of the most widely used technologies in life sciences.
Antibody Validation and its Use Cases
Antibodies are used in a variety of ways in academia and industry, from tools to therapeutics. Because antibodies are produced using live processes, which are naturally error-prone, validation is required from time to time. Furthermore, to develop biological therapeutics, the protein sequence must be confirmed as part of the regulatory process.
How to Determine Peptide Sequences
Amino acids (aa)—the building blocks of proteins—are simple molecules characterized by a variable R group flanked either side by an amino group and a carboxyl group. With around 20 different commonly found amino acids, each one can bond with another to produce chains that can be classified as peptides (typically below 50 aa) and proteins (sequences above 50 aa)—molecules ubiquitous to every known organism.
What are Monoclonal Antibodies?
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are homogenous antibodies that bind to a single epitope on an antigen. Kohler and Milstein generated the first mAbs when they developed hybridoma technology in the 1970s. Because of the specificity, homogeneity and unlimited availability, mAbs are valuable reagents used in a variety of important applications including treatment and diagnosis of diseases
Why is Protein Sequencing Useful?
Protein sequencing is a method that typically utilizes mass spectrometry (MS) to determine the amino acid code of a protein1. Prior to the development of mass spectrometry, Edman degradation, a method involving the stepwise degradation of peptides to derive the order of amino acids, was the mainstream approach. Nowadays, mass spectrometry is favored due to its ease of use and high throughput capabilities, though Edman degradation is still employed for specific applications in which the technique is well suited.
Monoclonal vs Polyclonal Antibody Drugs
The transition from polyclonal antibody drugs to a more targeted monoclonal approach was made possible through a series of scientific and technological advancements; the most notable of which is the hybridoma technique developed by Köhler and Milstein, which allowed the generation of pure antibodies at scale.
Structure of an Amino Acid
Amino acids are small organic molecules that make up peptides and proteins. All living organisms share the same set of amino acids. Amino acids come together in different orders (sequences) to form proteins. As such, each type of protein has a different three-dimensional structure and biological activity.
How Do You Obtain the Sequence of an Antibody?
Antibody sequences are critical for antibody engineering and protein characterization in therapeutic development. For antibody reagent users, knowing the sequences allows them to perform sequence analysis/alignment to identify binding and cross-reactivity so they can conduct rational experiment design.
