Signatope Cross-Species TXP Assays

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a highly specific mean for the detection and quantification of proteins. The incorporation of a targeted enrichment step using antibodies led to further improvements in sensitivity and the development of mass spectrometry-based immunoassays. Here, the analyte - the protein itself or a tryptic peptide thereof - is enriched by an antibody prior to the mass spectrometric read-out.

MS-based immunoassays provide advantages over classical sandwich immunoassays, since the mass spectrometric readout confirms the identity of the analyte unambiguously and only one capture molecule is required. Additionally, the mass spectrometric data allow discrimination between different protein isoforms associated with related or alternatively processed or spliced genes, which is difficult when antibodies are used exclusively.

The lack of appropriate antibodies has so far limited the application of MS-based immunoassays approaches for protein quantification. Our novel concept of using group-specific anti-peptide antibodies, so-called Triple X Proteomics (TXP) antibodies for the enrichment of groups of signature peptides, enables us to develop multi-specific antibodies, which can be used for the enrichment step of multiple analytes harboring a common motif. Since the motifs comprise only 4 amino acids, TXP antibodies can be used for enrichment of protein families and for development of cross-species assays.

We have established MS-based immunoassays employing TXP antibodies for several applications, including a number of cross-species ADME/Tox assays that represent truly translational marker assays.