Mass spectrometry of extracellular vesicles

Abstract

The review briefly summaries main features of extracellular vesicles, a joint terminology for exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic vesicles. These vesicles are in the center of interest in biology and medical sciences, and form a very active field of research. Mass spectrometry (MS), with its specificity and sensitivity, has the potential to identify and characterize molecular composition of these vesicles; but as yet there are only a limited, but fast-growing, number of publications that use MS workflows in this field. MS is the major tool to assess protein composition of extracellular vesicles: qualitative and quantitative proteomics approaches are both reviewed. Beside proteins, lipid and metabolite composition of vesicles might also be best assessed by MS techniques; however there are few applications as yet in this respect. The role of alternative analytical approaches, like gel-based proteomics and antibody-based immunoassays, are also mentioned. The objective of the review is to give an overview of this fast-growing field to help orient MS-based research on extracellular vesicles.

Post-translational add-ons mark the path in exosomal protein sorting

“…Nevertheless, some approaches tried to discern among these PTMs by terminal mutation and protein overexpression [149]. Besides, these proteomic approaches could also help to discover or define any possible consensus sequence for protein delivery into EVs, either protein mono-ubiquitination and selective chain formation or other PTMs [102,150,151].…”

Ceramide and Exosomes: A Novel Target in Cancer Biology and Therapy

“…Li, Zhang, Zheng, Liu, & Chen, 2017; Pietrowska et al, 2017; Pocsfalvi et al, 2016; Sandfeld-Paulsen, Aggerholm-Pedersen, et al, 2016; Sandfeld-Paulsen, Jakobsen, et al, 2016; Sinha et al, 2018; Tanase et al, 2017; Taylor, Zacharias, & Gercel-Taylor, 2011; van Niel et al, 2018; Weidle et al, 2017)) (Fig. 1).…”

New Technologies for Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles

“…123, 124 Purified EV preparations undergo enzymatic digestion and peptide separation before being ionized and analyzed by mass spectrometer. Along this complex processing, multiple steps critically affect EV proteomic profiling.…”