Patent ID: 6864089
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for encoding a plurality of polypeptide samples for analysis by mass spectrometry, comprising, for each individual sample: (i) cleaving the amide backbone of polypeptides in said sample to form sub-populations of fragments having carboxy-terminal residues; (ii) mass-modifying the carboxy-terminal residues of said fragments with one of at least two moieties of different molecular weight to produce a plurality of discrete populations of mass-modified fragments which differ in molecular weight by the addition of said moiety, wherein the moieties differ in molecular weight due to inclusion of isotypes of differing molecular weight, wherein, for each individual sample, the mass-modification produces the plurality of various discrete populations labeled, in a predetermined ratio of said at least two moieties, and which ratio is different from one of said individual samples to the next amongst the plurality of polypeptide samples.