Using MALDI-TOF to characterise new biomarkers that predict for Down's syndrome

Researchers at Middlesex University, UK, are using a Shimadzu MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer to analyse the association of hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) hormone with diseases.

A heavily glycosylated fragment of hCG has been shown to be produced by malignant tumours and has been observed during abnormal pregnancies, such as Down's syndrome.

"The Shimadzu MALDI-TOF's high resolution range means we can look at our higher mass molecules - around 10-50 kDa - without having to modify them first, and this is a huge advantage," explained Prof Ray Iles, Associate Dean of Research at the School of Health and Social Sciences. "The hCG hormone and a metabolite, hCGb, are present in urine in relatively large amounts so it is easy to obtain samples from patients and analyse the molecule's degree of hyperglycosylation. Our preliminary work has shown that the molecules have different glycosylation patterns for various diseases and we are now running thousands of urine samples through the MALDI-TOF system to look at the spectral patterns. We hope to find specific structural alterations of the hCG molecules associated with certain conditions, such as Down's syndrome pregnancies, as this could provide a revolutionary diagnostic test that would be very quick, easy and cheap to perform."

Prof Iles' department has a fleet of mass spectrometers from Shimadzu for a wide range of projects. "I was looking for instruments that would be consistent for anyone within the department to use, from water quality studies to herbal medicine analyses," he said. "The Shimadzu software is very intuitive, so people trained on one spectrometer can easily move on to the next. Another advantage is the service contract and back up, Shimadzu supports us fantastically well and no other company can beat it!"