Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of phospholipase A(2) and fibrinolytic enzyme, two enzymes obtained from Chinese Agkistrodon blomhoffii Ussurensis venom

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometr y (MALDI-TOFMS) was used to analyze two enzymes, phospholipase AZ and fibri nolytic enzyme isolated from Chinese Agkistrodon blomhoffii Ussurensis veno m. Using sinapinic acid as the matrix, positive ion mass spectra of the enz ymes were obtained, In addition to the dominant protein [M+H](+) ions, mult imeric and multiply charged ions were also observed in the mass spectra, Th e higher the concentration of the enzymes, the more multiply charged polyme r and multimeric ions were detected, Our results indicate that MALDI-TOFMS can provide a rapid and accurate method for molecular weight determination of snake venom enzymes, Mass accuracies of 0.1 and 0.3 % were achieved by a nalysis of highly dialyzed phospholipase A2 and fibrinolytic enzyme, and th ese results are much better than those obtained using sodium dodecyl sulfat e-palyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. MALDI-TOFMS thus provides a reliable method to determine the purity and molecular weight of these enzymes, which are of potential use as therapeutants, Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Son s, Ltd.