High-throughput affinity mass spectrometry.

Affinity mass spectrometry (AMS) is a proteomics approach for selectively isolating target protein(s) from complex biological fluids for mass spectrometric analysis. The resulting high-content mass spectrometry (MS) data show the unique MS protein signatures (wild-type, posttranslationally modified, as well as genetically modified forms of the protein target) that are present within a biological sample. Information regarding such protein diversity is normally lost in classical proteomic or immunoassay analyses. This chapter presents a step-by-step description of high-throughput AMS in the population proteomic screening of the human plasma protein cystatin C.