Ultra performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry for the absolute quantification of proteins and peptides.

A selective, rapid, and sensitive 12.7-min ultra performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ID/MS/MS) method was developed and compared to conventional high-performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ID/MS/MS) for the absolute quantitative determination of multiple proteins from complex matrixes. The UPLC analysis was carried out on an Acquity UPLC ethylene-bridged hybrid (BEH) C18 reversed-phase column (50 x 2.1 mm i.d., 1.7-microm particle size) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 300 microL/min. For the HPLC separation, a similar gradient profile on a reversed-phase C18 column with dimensions of 150 x 1.0 mm at a flow rate of 30 microL/min was utilized. The aqueous and organic mobile phases were 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile, respectively. Detection was performed on a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 10-90 fmol/microL. Relative standard deviation values equal to or less than 6.5% were obtained by the UPLC-ID/MS/MS method, thus demonstrating performance equivalent to conventional HPLC-ID/MS/MS for isotope dilution quantification of peptides and proteins. UPLC provides additional dimensions of rapid analysis time and high-sample throughput, which expands laboratory emergency response capabilities over conventional HPLC.